Navigating Leadership in Uncertain Times

Professor Dawn Freshwater's tenure as Vice-Chancellor of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, began in March 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe. Stepping into the role as the university's first female Vice-Chancellor, she faced immediate challenges in transitioning to online teaching and maintaining community amid lockdowns. Her reflections, published on the day before her departure on April 10, 2026, highlight how this crisis fostered a shared sense of purpose.

Freshwater, a former nurse with a PhD in mental health from the University of Nottingham, brought a unique perspective shaped by her career path from clinical practice to academic leadership at institutions like the University of Leeds and University of Western Australia. She emphasized collective effort in her final message, noting the privilege of stewarding New Zealand's top university through turbulent years.

Launch of Taumata Teitei: A Vision for Excellence

One of the cornerstones of Freshwater's leadership was the development of Taumata Teitei: Vision 2030 and the Strategic Plan 2028. Developed through extensive consultation with staff and students during the pandemic, this framework prioritizes excellence, sustainability, and relevance to Aotearoa New Zealand's communities. It guides the university toward becoming a global leader while honoring Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

• Focus on research impact and interdisciplinary collaboration
• Commitment to equity for Māori and Pacific students
• Integration of digital innovation with human-centered education

The plan has driven transformation, including responses to artificial intelligence in teaching and research, ensuring the university remains future-ready.

Research Triumphs and Funding Milestones

Under Freshwater, University of Auckland researchers solidified their global standing, with 292 academics listed in the Stanford–Elsevier Top 2% Scientists 2025 rankings. Funding successes included $24.3 million from the 2025 Marsden Fund for fundamental science and $34.8 million from the Endeavour Fund for high-impact projects. Eight projects each received $1 million from MBIE Smart Ideas.

Partnerships like Horizon Europe expanded international collaboration, while the Newmarket Innovation Precinct (NIP) grew to over 140 industry members, fostering R&D co-location and commercialization. These efforts reinforced the university's role in addressing national challenges from climate change to health.

Investing in Student Experience

Freshwater prioritized campus revitalization, overseeing the opening of the student-funded Hiwa Recreation Centre, which won international architecture prizes including the 2025 IOC/IAKS award and NZ Property Awards. Upgrades to B201 and the Old Choral Hall boosted engagement, linking recreation to academic success through health research collaborations.

Record Semester One enrolments reached 47,033 in 2026, up 8% year-on-year, driven by undergraduate growth and international recovery. Postgraduate numbers surged, signaling confidence in the university's offerings.

Photo by Jonathon Moore on Unsplash

Global Recognition and Employability

The university retained its QS World University Rankings 2026 position at 65th globally, New Zealand's only top-100 institution, and ranked 156th in THE 2026. It topped national graduate employability rankings, with strong scores in innovation (86th in Time magazine's 2026 list).

Philanthropy hit records in 2025 with 2,788 donors (up from 1,439) and 4,951 gifts, fueling scholarships and research. For more on rankings, see the university's reputation page.

Partnerships and Civic Impact

The Kōtuitanga partnership with Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei provided guidance on the university's responsibilities as a Treaty partner. Collaborations with Eden Park, Auckland Business Chamber, and the Newmarket Precinct extended impact to city innovation.

Freshwater chaired Universities NZ Research Committee and held global roles in APRU and U21, elevating New Zealand higher education internationally.

Facing Challenges Head-On

No leadership is without hurdles. Freshwater navigated staff strikes over pay in 2022, protests including Palestine solidarity encampments in 2024, and academic freedom debates around Mātauranga Māori. Curriculum reviews and faculty mergers, like law schools, sparked 'unprecedented' senate revolts in 2024. Funding pressures from research reforms and trust erosion in higher ed were ongoing concerns.

• 2020-2021: COVID campus return controversies
• 2022: Multi-campus strikes
• 2023-2024: Free speech and indigenous knowledge tensions
• 2025: Research funding cuts impacting humanities

She urged rebuilding trust through integrity amid geopolitical and tech disruptions.

Smooth Transition to New Leadership

Announcing her step-down in June 2025, Freshwater ensured continuity with an extended notice. Professor Nic Smith, former VC of Victoria University of Wellington and UoA Engineering Dean, was appointed in February 2026, starting August 3. Acting VC Professor Frank Bloomfield bridges the gap post her April 10 exit.

Her portrait, unveiled March 2026 by photographer Roberta Thornley, symbolizes self-determination—from first-in-family graduate to trailblazing leader.

Photo by Jessie Nelson on Unsplash

Legacy and Future Horizons

Freshwater leaves a strengthened University of Auckland, poised for AI-era challenges while valuing human connections. Her emphasis on stewardship ensures Taumata Teitei endures. As New Zealand higher education faces funding shifts and demographic changes, her reflections offer a blueprint: collective ambition amid adversity. Read her full piece here and step-down statement here.

In NZ context, her tenure exemplifies resilient leadership in a sector balancing global ambitions with local equity.