A Collegiate Union advertisement in The Press, 1872.
A University for New Zealand
20 November 2023
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During the 1860s, politicians and statesmen throughout New Zealand were debating how best to provide for university education in a new country with limited finances. Some favoured the provision of scholarships to enable students to return to England for their education, while others preferred the establishment of a local institution. If there was to be a University of New Zealand however, the big question became "where was it to be located?"
Seeing the potential benefit of such an institution being situated in their own province, Otago raced ahead to establish a University by ordinance in 1869 and then attempted to gain it status as the University of New Zealand. Spurred on to action, Canterbury politicians argued that the University of New Zealand should be an overarching national entity supported by affiliated colleges. And if Otago could have an affiliated college, then Canterbury could certainly have one too!
When the University of New Zealand called for institutions of higher education to apply for affiliation in 1871, it was no surprise then that two Christchurch institutions put their names forward.
A Collegiate Union advertisement in The Press, 1872.
Both Canterbury Museum (which opened in 1870) and Christ’s College (which was established in 1855) applied, but neither fulfilled all the necessary requirements on their own. A union was suggested between the two and the Canterbury Collegiate Union was formed. The Union was to be in essence the forerunner of Canterbury College.
In April 1872 the Union was officially granted affiliation, and began offering courses in classics, mathematics, botany, zoology, chemistry, and modern languages. In the following year they added the subjects of jurisprudence, English language and literature, physiology and geology.
Christ's College Big School, which opened in 1863. Collegiate Union classes were held at Christ's College, Canterbury Museum, and in the Public Library.
The initial enrolment amounted to a grand total of 83 students, which included women, and classes were held mainly in the evenings to allow working students to attend. Higher education had found a place to begin in Christchurch.
