Our next Graduation Ceremony will be held on Friday 18 August 2023. If you are eligible to attend this ceremony, you will be sent an invitation to register.
All graduands from our Auckland International Campus have the option to attend a graduation ceremony in Auckland or in Dunedin. You can select the ceremony you want to attend when you register. Read more about the Dunedin ceremony here.
Auckland Graduation
18 August 2023
Dunedin Graduation
16 December 2022
10 March 2023
All students who are graduating on Friday 18 August 2023 must register using the unique link you will receive through your personal email address, before Friday 7 July.
- If you do not register by this date you will be graduated in absentia.
- Students must graduate within 18 months of attaining their qualification.
- It is important that all your contact information is up to date so you do not miss important graduation messages we may send.
You should register even if you are not planning to attend a ceremony (e.g. you intend to graduate in absentia).
When registering for graduation you will be asked to tell us:
- Whether you will be graduating in person or in absentia.
- How many guests you would like to bring.
- About any special seating arrangements required for yourself or your guests.
9am |
Graduand morning tea for students and staff at OPAIC Level 1 |
10.30am |
Meet at at the Waharoa arch at Aotea Square for photographs and parade |
11am |
Student Registration at the Town Hall |
11.30am |
Guests arrive at Town Hall |
12pm |
P¯owhiri and ceremony begin at the Great Hall |
2pm |
Ceremony concludes |
Please note that graduates and their guests will be required to stay for the whole ceremony. Please keep this in mind when making travel plans.
Graduation begins with P¯owhiri. A P¯owhiri is a formal M¯aori welcome ceremony conducted by the Kaum¯atua (elders) of the iwi kainga, literally the “home people” (hosts). It is a highly ritualised encounter between hosts and manuhiri (visitors). While some practices may differ among various tribes and M¯aori services, the intention of the encounter is always the same: to clear the tapu (restrictions) off the manuhiri, to create a spiritually safe environment and to establish the purpose of meeting together.
The P¯owhiri is unique to the M¯aori culture and is conducted in te reo M¯aori (the M¯aori language). It starts with a karanga (call of welcome). The matriarchs (senior women) from both the host and the visitors’ group* perform this ritual. It acknowledges the spirituality of the encounter and clears the pathway for a safe entrance to the marae ¯atea (courtyard/ hall), and then into te waahi hui (the meeting place), te k¯akano. *Otago Polytechnic has instituted the use of bagpipes as our part of the karanga, i.e. the lament of the bagpipes replaces the traditional karanga.
The next ritual is the hongi (traditional greeting), where the host extends their right hand to the visitor who extends their right hand, they shake hands and then briefly press their noses together - both the forehead and the nose should touch at the same time. This action is gentle to avoid the accidental 'headbutt'. The manuhiri will advance in single file and 'hongi' the hosts before going to their seats. Guests should remain standing during this process.
Next, one of the Kaum¯atua will say a karakia (prayer). This ritual acknowledges the encounter between host and visitor and the purpose of the gathering. It calls for a semblance of peace and unity within. A h¯imene (hymn, song of praise) typically accompanies the karakia. Both hosts and visitors may now be seated.
Next, the whaik¯orero (formal speeches) commence. The Kaum¯atua (elders) of both the hau k¯ainga (home people) and the manuhiri (visitors) lead these, which are accompanied by waiata performed by the iwi k¯ainga. The manuhiri kaik¯orero (visitors’ spokesperson) have the right of reply, and a suitable waiata should accompany this.
With the formalities completed, the host Kaum¯atua will complete the ceremony with a karakia or so designate that the visitors’ Kaum¯atua can close.
All Auckland International Campus awards will be presented first followed by all Capable NZ awards. All awards will be presented by their relevant schools. Graduands’ names will be read alphabetically.
For those receiving Master and Bachelor degrees, you should hold your trencher in your left hand as you cross the stage. The Board Chairperson will confer your degree by taking your trencher from you and placing it on your head. You will then continue crossing the stage (wear your trencher for the remainder of the ceremony). For those receiving Graduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Diplomas, you should already be wearing your trencher as you cross the stage.
Please ensure you leave any personal items (e.g. cameras, handbags, cell phones) with your guests. Out of respect, cell phones must be switched off during the ceremony.
These will be presented by the Executive Team following the academic award presentations. Those students receiving Special Student Awards will be notified in writing prior to the Graduation Ceremony.
Ng¯ati Wh¯atua will offically close the ceremony. The Official Party will then leave in procession. Staff, graduates, then guests will follow.
Certificates and transcripts will be distributed to learners before graduation day. You may pick up your certificate from the OPAIC campus or request that it be couriered to you. This is to allow graduates to have their awards on hand to use for any applications for further study, jobs, or promotions which they may be relevant to.
Certificates will not be handed out on stage at the ceremony, but graduates will still have their names read out, and will cross the stage and be formally acknowledged for their achievements, and welcomed into the OPAIC alumni community.
All graduands who would like to walk in the parade are to meet at Aotea Square at 10.30am. All graduands must arrive on time and be wearing their academic dress. The parade will depart at 10.45am.
The parade will start at Aotea Square and finish at the Auckland Town Hall. It will move down Bledisloe Lane, then turn right onto Wellesley Street. It will then turn right up Queen Street. The parade will depart at 10:45am and will be led by a piper and a drummer. Your guests are more than welcome to follow you and cheer you on.
There will be a photographer taking photos of all graduands and guests.
You do not have to walk in the parade if you don’t want to. If this is the case, please ensure you meet at the Town Hall Great Hall at 11am sharp. There will be staff and volunteers who will show you where to go.
Each graduating student can bring up to three guests. Graduates and guests do not need tickets. If you would like to bring more than three guests, please make this request on your registration form.
All graduating students must wear appropriate academic dress. Otago Polytechnic operates a hire service for academic dress, the proceeds of which go toward cleaning and maintaining the academic dress stock. You will order your regalia online through Academic Dress Hire.
Certificate, National Certificate |
$30 |
Diploma, National Diploma |
$50 |
Bachelor, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Master |
$70 |
Cancellations should be sent to info@academicdresshire.co.nz at least seven days prior to graduation. Orders paid for within this time will be refunded, subject to a $10 administration fee.
If the ceremony has to be postponed for any reason, all orders will be automatically transferred to the new date.
Academic Dress is available for collection from Academic Dress Hire, 17 George Street, Parnell, Auckland at the following times.
Wednesday 16 August |
9am - 5pm |
Thursday 17 August |
9am - 5pm |
Friday 18 August |
9am - 1pm |
You can also arrange for your regalia to be couriered to you before graduation day.
Graduands must register for graduation prior to collecting regalia. You cannot collect regalia if you have not registered. We suggest paying prior to collection to save time.
Your academic dress may be returned at the Auckland Town Hall after the ceremony, or to Academic Dress Hire (17 George Street, Parnell, Auckland) within five business days of the ceremony.
Replacement costs will be charged for any lost, damaged or soiled items of academic dress. The replacement value of a full set of Otago Polytechnic academic dress is $1000.
Academic dress can be collected and returned on your behalf by friends or family members. However, the responsibility for safe return of academic dress is still yours.
Photographer: Chris Dillon
Website: www.dillon.co.nz
Dillon Photography will be photographing during the ceremony and, if you wish, will be available to photograph you and/or your family in their on-site studio after the ceremony. Please note: due to lighting and time restrictions we will not be able to guarantee 'on stage' photos. An on-site studio will be running after the graduation ceremony.
There is no charge for on-site studio photography. Print or digital pricing can be viewed below. You will be able to view and order photos online within seven days of your event.
To order your photos:
1. Visit www.dillon.co.nz
2. Click on Graduation in the navigation menu.
3. Click on 'Graduation Online Store' button.
4. Click on your event.
You will be redirected to our online shop. Here you can choose images, select sizes or packages, calculate shipping costs and purchase. The prints will be shipped to the address you supply.
(Note sizes are in inches)
6 x 4" print |
$12 |
7.5 x 5" print |
$20 |
12 x 8" print |
$45 |
18 x 12" print |
$60 |
High-resolution file |
$60 |
Matted Prints |
|
10 x 8" |
$40 |
14 x 11" |
$55 |
Framed Prints | |
A4 | $135 |
A3 | $195 |
A2 | $355 |
A1 | $550 |
Canvases | |
A3 | $229 |
A2 | $309 |
A1 | $449 |
Packages also available. See online store for details.
Whether you're traveling to Graduation to attend the ceremony yourself or visiting to support your loved one, you may need to book accommodation quite early to ensure that you find something.
To find accommodation near the Auckland International Campus, visit HotelsCombined.
New Zealand is one of 61 countries with a national branch of the Federation of Graduate Women (FGW) affiliated to the International FGW whose headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. All women degree graduates may join the NZFGW.
The aims of the Federation are:
Membership of the IFGW entitles degree graduates to apply for many postgraduate awards. Members receive regular newsletters, and may obtain letters of introduction to other branches of the IFGW when travelling overseas. Members retain contact with other degree graduate women, and by corporate action contribute to community, educational and controversial issues. Members of all branches contribute to the preparation of submissions.
Local branch programmes include talks on topical subjects, panel discussions, study groups and social activities.
List of local branch secretaries:
© Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus 2018