1 History of the University

What is now known as AUT began in 1895 (coincidentally the founding year of physiotherapy in England) as a school for children of poor families. Originally on Rutland Street in Auckland, the school's first roll was just 30. In 1906 it moved to new premises on Wellesley Street that would become its permanent home, and much of the original building still stands.

Training College at Wellesley Street

In 1913 the Auckland Technical School became Seddon Memorial Technical College and by 1947 had become the largest secondary school in New Zealand with 1,800 day and 2,500 evening pupils.

In 1957 the school's secondary function was separated from its tertiary education arm, with a new secondary college being formed – now called Western Springs College – with the newly named Auckland Technical Institute (ATI) formally established at Wellesley Street.

In 1973, when a new physiotherapy school was opened at ATI, New Zealand's largest technical institute had nine departments within four newly established schools: engineering, science, arts and commerce. A fifth school — health and biological science — was not to formally come into existence until 1976.

In 1980 ATI grew even larger, taking over the North Shore Teachers' College establishing the Akoranga Campus where the physiotherapy programme would become situated. 

As the 1988 Hawke Report sparked heated debate on funding for tertiary education, Auckland University recognised the ATI diploma and advanced diploma in physiotherapy as the equivalent of a Bachelor of Science degree.

In 1989, as a result of the new Education Act, the university became bulk funded and changed its name to the Auckland Institute of Technology (AIT), and in 1991 AIT became the first polytechnic in New Zealand to offer a degree course – the Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy). 

In 2000, AIT made history becoming the first polytechnic in New Zealand to become a University changing its name to Auckland University of Technology (AUT).