University of Otago Chancellor Lindsay Brown received a standing ovation yesterday at his final university council meeting.
The accountant has been on the council for 16 years and its chancellor, or head, for five years.
Pro-chancellor John Ward, who will become chancellor when Mr Brown retires at the end of this year, thanked him for his contribution, saying he was an inclusive and fair-minded chancellor who also had to occasionally be "a smoother of ruffled feathers".
"You have done the job particularly well. We thank you for your service and wish you well in retirement."
Mr Brown described his time as chancellor as "a fantastic privilege".
He said his best advice was to "keep battling on with what you've got", referring to the challenging financial times faced by universities.
