Former New Zealand governor general Sir Anand Satyanand has been appointed chancellor of the University of Waikato, effective immediately.

The one-time lawyer, district court judge and parliamentary ombudsman replaces former prime minister James Bolger, whose 12-year term as chancellor ended in June. It is the second high-profile chancellorial appointment in the region in a week, after former Australian foreign minister and prime ministerial aspirant Julie Bishop was named chancellor of the Australian National University.

Sir Anand said the position offered the ¡°exciting new challenge¡± of working at the governance level of a university in the middle of an ¡°expansion and development¡± phase.

Waikato, which ranks fifth among the country¡¯s universities, opened a new campus in the coastal city of Tauranga in April. It has unveiled a 20-year master plan for the development of its main campus in New Zealand¡¯s fourth biggest city, Hamilton, about 68 miles (110km) south of Auckland.

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Sir Anand said his association with Waikato began when, as governor general, he delivered a lecture at the law school about the connections between the position and New Zealand¡¯s election system.

He subsequently spent three years as a consultant on a postgraduate law programme and ¡°was one of a number of outside people that came to give their advice on papers submitted by scholars¡±.

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Sir Anand has also announced his intention to step down as chairman of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions, which he has led since its establishment early last year. He told reporters that the experience had been ¡°both heartening and heart-breaking¡± and that he had decided to step aside now that the development stage of the inquiry was nearing completion.

Neil Quigley, Waikato¡¯s vice-chancellor, said the university had spent months securing Mr Bolger¡¯s successor, initiating discussions in February and appointing?him to council during Mr Bolger¡¯s last meeting in May.

Professor Quigley said Sir Anand would bring ¡°a wealth of knowledge¡± and the university would ¡°benefit enormously from Sir Anand¡¯s wisdom and experience¡±.

john.ross@timeshighereducation.com