Honorary doctors and fellows

Sir Peter Blake— Honorary Doctorate (HonD), 2000.

Sir Peter Blake received AUT’s first honorary doctorate in 2000. He was an AUT alumnus, having studied mechanical engineering at the Auckland Technical Institute (AUT’s predecessor) from 1966 to 1969, gaining a New Zealand Certificate of Engineering.

Sir Peter Blake was an iconic New Zealand yachtsman who won the 1989–1990 Whitbread Round the World Race, held the Jules Verne Trophy from 1994 to 1997 by setting the around-the-world sailing record as co-skipper of ENZA New Zealand, and led New Zealand to successive victories in the America's Cup.

^{Peter Blake, skipper of Lion New Zealand. Dominion Post (Newspaper): Photographic negatives and prints of the Evening Post and Dominion newspapers. Ref: EP/1985/0686. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22656164}

Sir Stephen Tindall – Honorary Doctorate (HonD), 2002

Sir Stephen Tindall is the founder of New Zealand retailer The Warehouse, The Warehouse Group, and the Tindall Foundation. He received an honorary doctorate from AUT in 2002.

^{Sir Stephen Tindall. New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons}

Grant Major – Honorary Doctorate (HonD), 2004

Grant Major is an acclaimed production designer whose work includes Lord of the Rings, King Kong, and Whale Rider. He studied at the Auckland Technical Institute (now AUT) and graduated with a degree in graphic design; he later received an honorary doctorate (HonD) from AUT in 2004. Grant is an Oscar, Emmy, and Academy Award winner and nominee.

^{Grant Major. Big Screen Symposium (online)}

Rev Dr Takutai Wikiriwhi – Honorary Doctorate (HonD), 2008

The Rev Dr Takutai Wikiriwhi is a prominent kaumātua and leader of Ngāti Whātua o Orākei. He played a major and active role in Ōrākei Marae and represented the hapū in civic matters within Tāmaki Makaurau. Takutai received an honorary doctorate from AUT in 2008.

^{Rev Dr Takutai Wikiriwhi. By Government House (New Zealand) https://gg.govt.nz/copyright-and-licensing - https://gg.govt.nz/images/takutai-wikiriwhi, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons}

Adrienne Winkelmann – Honorary Doctorate (HonD), 2016

Adrienne Winkelmann is a renowned New Zealand high-fashion designer and owner of a fashion label bearing her name. She studied design and business management at the Auckland Technical Institute (now AUT) and received an honorary doctorate from AUT in 2016.

^{Fashion designer Adrienne Winkelmann at the Adrienne Winkelmann store, Chancery Square, Auckland. Photo / NZ Herald}

Max Gimblett – Honorary Doctorate (HonD), 2019

Max Gimblett is an internationally acclaimed New Zealand artist celebrated for his paintings and canvases, which blend Eastern and Western influences. Max is an AUT alumnus, having studied at and received his Associate in New Zealand Institute of Management from the Seddon Memorial College (now AUT) from 1951-1953. He received an honorary doctorate from AUT in 2019.

^{Max Gimblett. New Zealand Government, Office of the Governor-General, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons}

Bill Middleton – Seddon Fellow, 2016

Bill Middleton graduated from SMTC (AUT's predecessor) and has been the founder, President, and CEO of the Corporate Capital Group in New York since 1988.

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Antony ‘Tony’ Paul Astle ONZM, 2021

Tony Astle, affectionately known as the ‘Godfather’ of New Zealand’s fine dining scene, is a renown veteran chef and restaurateur.

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Dr George Burrill and Dr Lola Van Wagenen, 2020

George is the founder of the international development firm ARD and was the Honorary Consul of New Zealand to Vermont. In 2012, Lola and George established the New American Scholarship Fund at Champlain College.

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Vivien Sutherland Bridgwater MNZM, 2015

Chair of the Auckland Theatre Company. Former general manager of University Relations at AUT.

Ted Bryant OSM, 2020

Former Head of the School of Hotel and Restaurant Studies (now School of Hospitality and Tourism).

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Associate Professor Peter Larmer, 2023

Former Acting Dean and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at AUT.

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