A world of talent

The Alumni Relations and Development (ARD) office is the University’s point of contact for our donors, alumni and friends. The team includes Development and Alumni Relations personnel and a range of staff to support them. This includes events to gather together and celebrate our alumni and donors; web management, communications, research and development writing to correspond with our constituents; gift processing, database services and business intelligence services to track gifts and alumni across the globe; and governance and investment services to the Foundations to support their stewardship and investment of gifts.

ARD managed the University’s campaign “For All Our Futures”, successfully overshooting its dual goals of 50% alumni engagement (60.4% achieved) and $300m fundraising ($380m achieved). This was the most successful philanthropic campaign in New Zealand’s history.

The University Marketing team is responsible for building and maintaining brand awareness among the wider public, with the main purpose of inspiring consideration and preference for the University among those interested in pursuing tertiary study. The team oversee major brand recruitment events, advertising and social media campaigns, marketing automation initiatives, production of printed and digital marketing collateral, as well as high-profile sponsorship relationships. The team also provide stewardship for the University’s relationship with external advertising and market research agencies and governance for the use of the University brand both internally and externally.

The Schools and Community Engagement team are focused on developing the University’s school leaver pipeline into our undergraduate degrees, managing the University’s relationship with New Zealand’s secondary schools – and promoting tertiary study and all its possibilities – to potential future students, their families and wider communities from Year 9 through to Year 13. The team work with schools and communities to deliver a wide range of welcoming online, in-person (on- and off-campus) events, presentations and activities to raise awareness of the University’s programmes, entry requirements, extra/co-curricular activities and facilities, and to help support school leavers’ decision-making and successful preparation for and transition to tertiary study.

The Communications and Engagement team are responsible for fostering beneficial relationships with national and international stakeholders by showcasing the University’s achievements, successes and positive impact on the communities we serve, encouraging positive perception, consideration and interest among potential philanthropic donors, as well as civic, industry, community and other tertiary partners wishing to leverage our institution’s expertise, knowledge and innovations.

The team engages and builds relationships with internal and external audiences by developing key content and messaging across all relevant touchpoints and assets (including University websites, intranet, social media, media engagements, publications and events), while ensuring that all staff, students and alumni are kept informed about University activities in a timely and appropriate manner.

Communications staff also provide strategic communications advice and support to the University’s senior leaders on matters that have a reputational risk for the University in order to help build and protect the reputation of the institution or provide guidance, direction and reassurance to staff, students and other stakeholders in moments of major disruption (such as during the recent COVID response and/or major weather events).

The Communications team also offer training for academic staff to help build their own individual profile, as well as the reputation of the University, through their engagement with the media.

New Zealand’s open society enables direct engagement with Government, political parties, civil servants, community groups, NGOs and the business sector. Politicians, diplomats and community leaders are regular visitors to the University. We aim to maintain close connections with Auckland city partners and City Hall, and to be proactive partners in the development of our city and the nation.

The University leads the government-funded North Asia Centre of Asia Pacific Excellence (CAPE), one of three CAPEs nationwide, which promotes cultural and language understanding in schools and the business community. We also host a Confucius Institute, which promotes the learning of Mandarin in the broader Auckland community.