It will be the largest graduation the University has held since May 2021, bringing thousands of graduates’ families and friends into our city to celebrate with them.
Nearly 2,500 graduates will walk across the stage over seven events. There will be two parades, both from 12 noon, on Tuesday 16 May and Thursday 18 May.
“Graduation is a highlight of the year for Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. It is a time to recognise the hard work of our graduates, as well as the resilience they have shown in staying the course through some of the difficulties of the past few years,” says Manukura—Chancellor John Allen.
“The commitment and capability of the staff at our University continues to be extraordinary, giving our graduates skills they will need to make a positive impact on the future of Aotearoa New Zealand and address the complex problems confronting our world.
“We hope the people of Wellington will join our graduates at one of the parades to enjoy this celebration of their excellence.”
The University will also recognise alumnus and economist Professor Robert Wade with an Honorary Doctorate and director of the Adam Art Gallery Associate Professor Christina Barton with a Higher Doctorate.
Professor Wade is an internationally renowned economist, whose research has focused on examining the wealth inequalities between countries and how they can be reduced.
Associate Professor Barton has made a significant contribution to the arts during her 35-year career and curated many exhibitions including the major Billy Apple retrospective at Auckland Art Gallery in 2015.
The University also looks forward to celebrating 57 PhD graduates, all of whom have added significantly to research in their fields.
This is the first Victoria University of Wellington graduation for Tumu Whakarae—Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith. He says he is very impressed with the quality of graduates that he has seen while here.
“It’s clear from our cohort of fantastic graduates that their University experience has provided them a unique opportunity to develop their talents. This experience will now, in turn, enable them to apply those talents for the benefit of all of us in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
Six of the formal graduation ceremonies will be held at the Michael Fowler Centre, while the tikanga Māori graduation ceremony Te Hui Whakapūmau will be held in The Hub at the University’s Kelburn campus. Seventy-one students will graduate at this ceremony.
This graduation marks the first graduating class from the Master of Nursing Practice, which gives graduates from diverse academic backgrounds the opportunity to study to pursue a registered nursing career. The degree is highly practical and completed at the University’s Wellington Regional Hospital campus.
About graduation
Parades
From 12 noon on Tuesday 16 May, staff and students will parade in full academic dress through Wellington, proceeding from Old Government Buildings on Lambton Quay through to Te Ngākau Civic Square.
If the event is cancelled due to wet weather, information about the cancellation will be posted on the University’s website and Facebook page.
Graduation ceremonies
Tuesday 16 May
Ceremony 1: 2 pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Wellington School of Business and Government
Ceremony 2: 6.30 pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Faculty of Law, Wellington School of Business and Government
Wednesday 17 May
Ceremony 3: 2 pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Wellington Faculty of Health, Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation
Ceremony 4: 6.30 pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Wellington Faculty of Engineering, Wellington Faculty of Science
Thursday 18 May
Ceremony 5: 2 pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī
Ceremony 6: 6.30 pm, Michael Fowler Centre
Wellington Faculty of Education, Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Friday 19 May
Te Hui Whakapūmau, 9.30 am, The Hub, Kelburn Campus
Te Hui Whakapūmau is an official university graduation ceremony based on tikanga Māori (Māori cultural practices). Usually, this event is held at our university marae, however, construction of the Living Pā means that for May 2023 the ceremony will be held in The Hub at the Kelburn Campus.