A civic university is one that values close involvement with the social, cultural, and economic life of its city and region. This is the mandate upon which Victoria University of Wellington was founded approximately 120 years ago. It remains just as important today and is central to the University’s Strategic Plan. Consistent with the civic university tradition, the University engages closely with New Zealand’s capital city. Our staff and students enjoy privileged access to the nation’s archived heritage, its cultural taonga, and they benefit from our strong and unique links with government departments and agencies, business, iwi, the judiciary, research organisations, cultural and environmental organisations, and the diplomatic community. In the twenty-first century, however, the University of Wellington now views civic engagement in a contemporary, global context. As well as engaging with the Wellington region we also contribute to New Zealand, to the Asia–Pacific region and to the world.