English Name
Luke made this Official Information request to University of Auckland
The request was partially successful.
From: Luke
Dear University of Auckland,
In mid-2021, the University of Auckland (UoA) changed its Maori name. Shortly afterwards, UoA released new branding, new advertising and a new logo reflecting that. The change went from "The University of Auckland Te Whare Wananga o Tamaki Makaurau" to "University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumatau Rau".
The new branding and advertising appear to have changed the wording of the English name from "The University of Auckland" to just "University of Auckland".
While minor, the change is symbolic because it suggests that UoA is a "brand" or "concept" rather than a "thing" or "place".
With this in mind, I ask the following questions:
1. Has the University changed its English name?
2. If so, why has the University changed its English name?
3. Why does UoA's new branding and advertising omit the "The"?
4. On the corner of Symonds St and Grafton Rd (outside Engineering Building), there used to sit a stone sign saying "The University of Auckland". That area is subject to landscaping works and the sign has been removed. Will it be reinstated? Will it be replaced? If so, what will it say?
Yours faithfully,
Luke
From: Landon Watt
University of Auckland
Dear Luke,
I refer to your request of 2 June 2023.
The legal name of the University of Auckland under section 3 of the
University of Auckland Act 1961 is the “University of Auckland” not “The
University of Auckland” (see
[1]https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/publ...).
Please advise whether this explanation satisfies parts 1-3 of your
request.
Yours sincerely,
Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
University of Auckland
From: Luke <[2][FOI #22981 email]>
Sent: Friday, 2 June 2023 1:42 pm
To: legal <[3][University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - English Name
Dear University of Auckland,
In mid-2021, the University of Auckland (UoA) changed its Maori name.
Shortly afterwards, UoA released new branding, new advertising and a new
logo reflecting that. The change went from "The University of Auckland Te
Whare Wananga o Tamaki Makaurau" to "University of Auckland | Waipapa
Taumatau Rau".
The new branding and advertising appear to have changed the wording of the
English name from "The University of Auckland" to just "University of
Auckland".
While minor, the change is symbolic because it suggests that UoA is a
"brand" or "concept" rather than a "thing" or "place".
With this in mind, I ask the following questions:
1. Has the University changed its English name?
2. If so, why has the University changed its English name?
3. Why does UoA's new branding and advertising omit the "The"?
4. On the corner of Symonds St and Grafton Rd (outside Engineering
Building), there used to sit a stone sign saying "The University of
Auckland". That area is subject to landscaping works and the sign has been
removed. Will it be reinstated? Will it be replaced? If so, what will it
say?
Yours faithfully,
Luke
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From: Luke
Dear Landon Watt,
Thank you for your comments. Unfortunately they are not sufficient to satisfy my request, so I have revised it below:
1. In changing its name from "the University of Auckland" to "University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau", has the University followed the required procedure under s 268 of the Education and Training Act 2020?
2. Please provide all correspondence between the Minister of Education (Chris Hipkins) and the University where the University gave notice of its proposed name change and where the Minister gave his reply.
3. Why has the University changed its trading name, branding, logo or advertising to the effect that the English name of the University has changed from "the University of Auckland" to "University of Auckland", irrespective of its technical legal name?
4. On the corner of Symonds St and Grafton Rd (outside Engineering Building), there used to sit a stone sign saying "The University of Auckland". That area is subject to landscaping works and the sign has been removed. Will it be reinstated? Will it be replaced? If so, what will it say?
Yours sincerely,
Luke
From: Landon Watt
University of Auckland
Dear Luke,
I refer to your email of 8 June 2023. Under section 15(1AA) of the OIA,
your amended request has been treated as replacing the original for the
purposes of calculating the 20 working day time limit for the University’s
response. The University will respond to your request as soon as
reasonably practicable, within the OIA’s maximum time limit (unless
extended under the OIA).
Yours sincerely,
Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
University of Auckland
From: Luke <[FOI #22981 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 8 June 2023 2:12 pm
To: Landon Watt <[email address]>
Subject: RE: 2023-OIA-0099-Luke
Dear Landon Watt,
Thank you for your comments. Unfortunately they are not sufficient to
satisfy my request, so I have revised it below:
1. In changing its name from "the University of Auckland" to "University
of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau", has the University followed the
required procedure under s 268 of the Education and Training Act 2020?
2. Please provide all correspondence between the Minister of Education
(Chris Hipkins) and the University where the University gave notice of its
proposed name change and where the Minister gave his reply.
3. Why has the University changed its trading name, branding, logo or
advertising to the effect that the English name of the University has
changed from "the University of Auckland" to "University of Auckland",
irrespective of its technical legal name?
4. On the corner of Symonds St and Grafton Rd (outside Engineering
Building), there used to sit a stone sign saying "The University of
Auckland". That area is subject to landscaping works and the sign has been
removed. Will it be reinstated? Will it be replaced? If so, what will it
say?
Yours sincerely,
Luke
show quoted sections
From: Landon Watt
University of Auckland
Dear Luke,
I refer to your request of 8 June 2023. The legal name of Waipapa Taumata
Rau, University of Auckland is the “University of Auckland”, and this has
not been changed. Information about the gifting of a new Māori name to the
University by the people of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei is publicly available on
the University’s website at
[1]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...
The University did not change its legal name under section 286 of the
Education and Training Act 2020. Part 2 of your request is refused under
section 18(e) of the OIA, as the documents requested do not exist.
“3. Why has the University changed its trading name, branding, logo or
advertising to the effect that the English name of the University has
changed from "the University of Auckland" to "University of Auckland",
irrespective of its technical legal name?”
To reflect its legal name.
“4. On the corner of Symonds St and Grafton Rd (outside Engineering
Building), there used to sit a stone sign saying "The University of
Auckland". That area is subject to landscaping works and the sign has been
removed. Will it be reinstated? Will it be replaced? If so, what will it
say?”
The University is undertaking landscaping works on this corner which
includes the replacement of the sign and improvements to the pedestrian
steps. The precise form and look of the sign has still to be finalised, as
this is an ongoing project.
You have the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are
dissatisfied with this response.
Yours sincerely,
Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland
From: Luke <[2][FOI #22981 email]>
Sent: Thursday, 8 June 2023 2:12 pm
To: Landon Watt <[3][email address]>
Subject: RE: 2023-OIA-0099-Luke
Dear Landon Watt,
Thank you for your comments. Unfortunately they are not sufficient to
satisfy my request, so I have revised it below:
1. In changing its name from "the University of Auckland" to "University
of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau", has the University followed the
required procedure under s 268 of the Education and Training Act 2020?
2. Please provide all correspondence between the Minister of Education
(Chris Hipkins) and the University where the University gave notice of its
proposed name change and where the Minister gave his reply.
3. Why has the University changed its trading name, branding, logo or
advertising to the effect that the English name of the University has
changed from "the University of Auckland" to "University of Auckland",
irrespective of its technical legal name?
4. On the corner of Symonds St and Grafton Rd (outside Engineering
Building), there used to sit a stone sign saying "The University of
Auckland". That area is subject to landscaping works and the sign has been
removed. Will it be reinstated? Will it be replaced? If so, what will it
say?
Yours sincerely,
Luke
show quoted sections
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