Te Hui Whakapūmau

Find out how to get to Te Hui Whakapūmau ceremonies, read the order of ceremony, and download the graduation programme and waiata.

Te Hui Whakapūmau is an inclusive University graduation ceremony based on tikanga Māori (Māori cultural practices), to be held at Ngā Mokopuna (formerly the Living Pā) for the first time in December 2024.

You can indicate that you want to celebrate your graduation at Te Hui Whakapūmau when you apply to graduate.

The next Te Hui Whakapūmau is on Friday 13 December 2024 at Ngā Mokopuna (formerly the Living Pā), which has been opened on 6 December 2024.

Inviting guests

Seating is general admission, and your whānau and friends do not require guest tickets.

The Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori will contact you separately to ask for your whānau and guest numbers for catering purposes.

Getting to the venue and parking

Parking around campus is limited and we recommend using public transport or taxis to travel to your ceremony.

Pay and display parks are available in Waiteata Road. It is a ten-minute walk uphill from there to Ngā Mokopuna (formerly known as the Living Pā). We suggest you bring your kaumātua to Kelburn Parade (Gate 4) before parking. Allow enough time to return to Ngā Mokopuna by 8.30 am or 1 pm, depending on the ceremony you are attending.

Venue access

Ngā Mokopuna (formerly known as the Living Pā) is wheelchair accessible. Guests that require specific seating arrangements should email tehuiwhakapumau@vuw.ac.nz.

On arrival

Before the graduation ceremony, you'll be sent instructions on where to go when you arrive.

You need to arrive for the ceremony after 8.15 am and no later than 8.45 am for the morning ceremony, or after 12.45 pm and no later than 1.15 pm for the afternoon ceremony, so you can be checked off before the pōhiri. The pōhiri begins at 9.30 am and 2 pm, respectively, for the morning and afternoon ceremonies.

Wear academic dress

You must wear academic dress to the ceremony, but the wearing of kākahu Māori is also encouraged.

Order your graduation dress online before Sunday 8 December on the Grad Gear website.

Order of ceremony

• Pōhiri / Formal welcome
• Te kupu a te Manukura / Chancellor’s address
• Te kupu o te rā / Guest speaker
• Te karanga i ngā tauira / Presentation of graduates to the Chancellor
• Ngā taonga a Ngāi Tauira / Presentation of gifts to the graduates by Ngāi Tauira
• Te tuku i ngā tohu / Presentation of commemorative certificates
• Ngā taonga a MAI ki Pōneke / MAI ki Pōneke PhD gift presentation
• Ngā taonga a Ngāi Tauira / Presentation of gifts to the graduates by Ngāi Tauira
• Te kupu a te Tauira / Graduate speaker’s address
• Karakia whakapūmau / Ritual of affirmation
• Karanga whakaū / Call of affirmation.

The pōhiri and ceremony last approximately two and a half hours. Kai hākari will be served immediately afterwards in the Hub.

Waiata

Kāore Taku Raru is the official waiata of Te Herenga Waka Marae. It will be sung during the pōwhiri onto the marae.

• Download the Kāore Taku Raru song words (PDF).

If you are no longer able to come to the ceremony

If you are unable to attend, let us know by 31 March for May ceremonies, or 31 October for December ceremonies by filling out this form or emailing us. If you let us know by the appropriate date, we can transfer your graduation to another ceremony. After that date, we will grant transfers on a case-by-case basis.

If you don't want to attend another ceremony, it is important that you confirm your postal address within the form.

If you are no longer able to attend the December 2024 graduation ceremonies, complete this form.

If you are unwell

If you are unwell, do not attend the event. Complete this form, and the Graduation Office will contact you in due course. Let us know within the form, under the 'Reason for Withdrawing' section, if you wish to attend another ceremony instead.

If you do not wish to attend another ceremony, it is important that you confirm your postal address within the form so we can send your certificate to you after the ceremonies.