The list of New Zealand university leaders below shows the chancellors (ceremonial heads and chairs of university councils) and vice-chancellors (executive heads or chief executives) of New Zealand's eight universities.
Since the development of the university sector in New Zealand a small number of Vice-Chancellors (Principal, President, or Director) have served for 15 years or more with some portion of this time in office as Vice-Chancellor in New Zealand. They include:
31 years: Sir Geoffrey Peren KBE (Massey 1927âÂÂ58)
27 years: Robert Alexander (Lincoln 1908âÂÂ35)
24 years: Sir Alan Stewart (educator) KBE (Massey 1959âÂÂ83), Sir Colin Maiden (Auckland 1971âÂÂ95)
22 years: Sir Malcolm Burns KBE (Lincoln 1952âÂÂ74)
20 years: Sir Robert Aitken (Birmingham 1953âÂÂ68, Otago 1948âÂÂ53), Sir Robert Irvine (Otago 1973âÂÂ93), Sir Donald R. Llewellyn (Waikato 1964âÂÂ84) James McWha AO (Lincoln 2018, Rwanda 2013âÂÂ15, Adelaide 2002âÂÂ12, Massey 1996âÂÂ2001), Stuart McCutcheon (Auckland 2005âÂÂ20, Victoria University of Wellington 2000âÂÂ04)
18 years: John Chapman Andrew (UNZ 1887âÂÂ1905), Derek McCormack (AUT 2004âÂÂ2022)
17 years: Sir George Currie (academic) (UNZ 1952âÂÂ62, Western Australia 1945âÂÂ52), Jim Williams (Victoria University of Wellington 1951âÂÂ68)
16 years: Eric Alexander (Lincoln 1908âÂÂ35)
15 years: Cheryl de la Rey (Canterbury 2019-present, Pretoria 2009âÂÂ18)
The current Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors are: