The Arms of Universities of New Zealand
originally published in four parts (1996-7) New Zealand Armorist, Journal of the Heraldry Society (New Zealand Branch) no 61 pp 13-15 to (1998) no 67 pp 8-10
The earliest universities to develop were in Italy. These were at Salerno(1) in the ninth century, and Bologna(2) in the eleventh century. Universities as we know them today started as scholastic guilds, developed on an analogy with the tradesmen's guilds and guilds of aliens in foreign cities which sprang up in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries in most of the great European cities. Towards the end of the twelfth century a few great schools claimed, from the excellence of their teaching, to be of more than merely local importance. These great schools began to be called studia generalia, or places to which scholars resorted from all parts. Emperor Frederick II in a Bull of 1225, conferred upon his new school at Naples the prestige which earlier studia had acquired by reputation and general consent, and this example was followed by Pope Gregory IX for Toulouse in 1229. Other studia generalia were subsequently founded by papal or imperial bulls, and in 1292 even the long-established universities of Paris and Bologna found it desirable to obtain similar bulls from Nicholas IV. It came to be accepted that without a licence from the Pope, Emperor or King no studium generale could be formed possessing the right of conferring degrees, licences to teach. A few schools such as Oxford however were too well established to be seriously questioned, and these were regarded as studia generalia ex consuetudine. The term universitas itself originally could mean any community or corporation, unless qualified by the use of such expressions as universitas magistrorum et scharium or similar. The more ancient and customary term was studium and subsequently studium generale, the specific term universitas being confined to the scholastic guild within the studium. By the close of the mediæval period however the distinction had been lost sight of, and the term universitas was used alone.
What is now the University of Oxford came into existence around 1115 with the arrival of scholars and teachers from the recently established schools at Paris, attracted by the proximity of the palace of the scholarly King Henry I, although the first reference to Oxford as a studium generale did not occur until 1163. The University of Cambridge followed Oxford and was created c.1209, although at first its growth was relatively slow and it was only approved as a studium generale by Bull of Pope John XXII in 1318. The structure of both universities was heavily influenced by the example of Merton College, Oxford, which was established in 1264 as a residence for secular clergy- those who lived a communal life but unlike the regular clergy were not monastic. The collegiate structure which was a significant feature of early universities remained strong in the English universities, and both were only formally incorporated as distinct legal bodies separate from their colleges in 1571.
University of Cambridge
Despite the great influence of Oxford and Cambridge on intellectual life, the traditions of universities in New Zealand owes at least as much to the Scottish and provincial civic university model, indeed the oldest university in this country was created by the Province of Otago. However, in 1870 Parliament passed legislation to create the University of New Zealand as an examining body with affiliated teaching colleges. This institution, although predated by the University of Otago, acted as the federal parent body for New Zealand universities until they were finally made independent in 1962, although each already had control over its own funds and academic work, subject only to approval by a Curriculum Committee of Senate of regulations governing courses and degree structures. Ironically the advent of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority has returned the universities to the subordinate status which they enjoyed before 1962. All of these universities make use coats of arms, although those of Lincoln and Victoria are assumed. As corporate bodies seals had always been a legal necessity for authenticating documents, and the British tradition encouraged the possession of an actual coat of arms as well as a seal, although generally supporters and helmet are omitted. Although the extent to which they are used varies, they are all to be found on the official seals of the universities and can be found on university degrees and diplomas and certificates.
The University of New Zealand used an heraldic seal. On 1 June 1871 the Council of the University of New Zealand appointed a sub-committee comprising the Primate, Bishop HJC Harper, and the Vice-Chancellor Hugh Carleton 'to consider and recommend a pattern for a corporate seal'. On 12 June they proposed a design 'azure between four stars, in cross resplendent, argent, a book of the last, open, indexed, edged, motto 'sapere aude' (that is, 'dare to be wise' or 'have courage to be wise'). The blazon was improved by an amendment of 14 June which substituted 'in lieu of stars resplendent estoils of eight points'. The Governor in Council approved the design on 6 September 1871, in breach of the royal prerogative. The first Calendar of the University of New Zealand, published in 1873, included the blazon: 'within a circular ribbon, and on a ground diapree, an antique esocheon, bearing azure, between four estoils of eight points in cross argent, a book open fesswise of the same, edged and indexed proper. Motto: on a escrol argent fimriated gules surmounting the ground diapree and passing behind the esochen, the words 'sapere aude(3)' Because the University of New Zealand did not have a permanent home there are few representations of the seal to be found today, apart from on early degree certificates. With the passing of the University of New Zealand the design of the armorial seal was the inspiration for the new arms of the University of Waikato.
University of Oxford
Lincoln University
In 1877 land was bought by the Canterbury College Board for the establishment of a school of agriculture. This school was opened in 1880, and in 1896 was reformed as the independent Canterbury Agricultural College, and recognised by the University of New Zealand. In 1927 it became a constituent college of the University, and in 1962 joined the newly independent University of Canterbury as Lincoln College. On 1 January 1990 it was renamed Lincoln University and became a university in its own right under the Education Amendment Act 1990.
The coat of arms of Lincoln University are those which were assumed in 1940. They are largely based on the arms of the Canterbury Association and its successor the Canterbury Provincial Council. With the establishment of an independent agricultural college in 1896 an official seal was designed, and this was engraved in 1899. This was partly heraldic, and the shields shown on it were later used for the design of a new coat of arms in 1940. This reflects three sources, the provincial emblems, the College seal of 1896, and the Students' Association badge dating from 1919. The motto, suggested by one-time College veterinarian, AA Taylor, is 'Scientia et Industria cum Probitate' (science- or knowledge, and industry with integrity). The provincial arms, used from 1849, included the chevron, cross and bishops' pall which were used on the new arms. The cross of Calvary and the pallia reflected the Canterbury Association's and later the province's strong association with the Church. The College seal of 1896 included a sheep's head, a mortar and pestle, all of which were used in the College arms. The Students' Association badge consisted of a quartered shield bearing symbols of agriculture, and the monogram CAC, on an oval medallion in the centre. This badge was used until the late 1930's, when the College commissioned JA Johnstone of the Canterbury University School of Art to prepare a suitable design for a more heraldically correct coat of arms. Although this design was approved by the College of Arms and adopted by the College in 1940, and by the Students' Association in 1942, it was never registered because the College balked at the fee of 130 guineas.(4) It is a pity that Lincoln does not have a valid coat of arms, especially since 1990 it had been an independent university.
Massey University
Massey University was established 1 January 1964 by Act of Parliament. This university grew out of the former Massey Agricultural College, which was itself the result of twin developments at Auckland University College and Victoria University College in the 1920's.
The arms were granted by the College of Arms on 10 May 1967 as "gyronny of ten argent and azure a mullet gules ambriated argent and irradiated or and for the crest on a wreath of the colours issuant from flames proper a ram's head argent horned and ensigned by the horns of the African long legged ram". On a scroll beneath the arms appear the words 'floreat scientia'. The star is from the arms of New Zealand. In these arms it also represents knowledge and learning and so has been irradiated. It is in the centre of the shield being the central theme of the University. The background, a gyronny of 10 pieces in blue and white, represents the 10 degrees first offered by the University. The crest is the ram's head that was used in former years by the Students' Association. This, with its four horns, is unusually and memorable and provides a link with agriculture and the former college. There are proceeding from flames of learning, which also suggest, phoenix-like, the idea of a new body being born out of an old.
It is to be regretted that these fine armorial bearings are not more widely used. Since the early 1990's the University authorities have seen fit to make use of a curious wheel-like device on most occasions when the use of arms would be appropriate.
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington (also called Te Whare Wananga o te Upokoo te Ika a Maui) was established in 1897 after a long struggle, and was affiliated to the University of New Zealand in 1899.
Arms were never formally granted to the Victoria University of Wellington. They were, and to an extent still are, the best known assumed arms in Wellington. In Victoria University College: an Essay towards a History,(5) Professor JC Beaglehole observed that the issue of a seal and motto were first discussed in 1901, but no decision on a coat of arms was made until 1903. Even then, the decision was made to not seek a legal grant of arms. The university colours of green and gold, said to have been inspired by the site for the new university college on gorse-covered hills, were adopted at this time. The arms as adopted by the Council were given the blazon "vert on a fess engrailed between three crowns or, a canton azure charged with four estoilles argent". The crest was borrowed from that of the Duke of Wellington. These arms were poorly drawn, with the fess invected, the estoilles mullets arranged in a lozenge. New arms were designed for the new-style Calendar of 1939, and these were more satisfactory though no more heraldically correct. The fess was replaced by a fess wavy, and the royal crowns by open crowns of a hitherto unknown design. These arms remained in use until 1992, although a new version appeared in 1959 on a new building. This attempted to blend together the two styles, with a fess wavy and royal crown (this time with caps of maintenance). The original assumed arms were the subject of an article by DG Shouler.(6)
Following a decision of 1984 to change the University arms, the Council on 25 May 1987 approved a petition for a formal grant of arms from the College of Arms.(7) However, this proved controversial, and the assumed arms were finally redesigned in 1992 after a long period of internal debate, and after discussions with the College of Arms. The idea of the redesign was to render the arms (or logo as they call them) more culturally sensitive, and more in keeping with the modern mission and place in society of the University. The shield retains the three crowns used in the original (assumed) coat of arms, which were said to represent Queen Victoria. It was more likely however that they were simply adopted as being reminiscent of the arms of the University of Oxford. Oxford also has a book on a canton in the centre of the shield. The wave motion indicates the situation of the University on Wellington Harbour. The four stars are those found in the Southern Cross as portrayed in the New Zealand Coat of Arms. The supporters, both of which are drawn in a highly stylised form, are the lions head from the old arms (taken from the arms of the Duke of Wellington) and the mamaia, a mythical bird from Maori folklore.(8) It is a matter for some regret that Victoria does not have legally granted armorial bearings. Since 1999 marks the centenary of the establishment of the university, it would be an appropriate time for the University authorities to seek a grant from the College of Arms to mark the occasion.
(1) Although it was never anything than a medical school, so could not be said to be a universitas litterarum, though its wide standing made it a studia generalia even if only in the field of medicine. A modern university was established at Salerno in 1970.
(2) It began as a law school but widened its scope to become a true universitas litterarum, something which Salerno never did. The university of Bologna remains, probably the oldest still extant.
(3) NZ Armorist No 37 p 10
(4) Letter from Peter Dwan, Director, Community Centre, 4 January 1996.
(5) New Zealand University Press, Wellington, 1949
(6) Shouler, DG, "The Arms of the Victoria University" NZ Armorist (1970) no 1 p 15
(7) Heraldry Society (NZ Branch) Newsletter no 3 1987, reported in the Dominion of 26 May 1987
(8) Letter from Gillian Bodoy, acting registrar, 21 December 1995.