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

Thursday 15 May 2025

Pōwhiri—3 pm

  • All faculties.

This pōwhiri is an important part of fulfilling our cultural obligations and ensuring there is enough time for two graduation ceremonies on Friday 16 May 2025. You and your whānau are welcome to attend if you can, though we understand that some whānau members may still be travelling at that time. Please note that there will be no official pōwhiri on graduation day.

Friday 16 May 2025

Morning ceremony—9.30 am

  • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Faculty of Education.

Afternoon ceremony—2 pm

  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Health
  • Faculty of Law
  • Wellington School of Business and Government/Faculty of Commerce
  • Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation.

Te Hui Whakapūmau is an official university graduation ceremony based on tikanga Māori (Māori cultural practices). It's held in May and December each year.

Te Hui Whakapūmau will be held at Ngā Mokopuna (formerly the Living Pā), which was opened on 6 December 2024.

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

Inviting guests

The official graduation ceremonies will be held in Te Tumu Herenga Waka.

Due to the limited space capacity in the wharenui, graduates can only have three guests join them for the duration of the ceremony.

However, graduates are welcome to invite additional guests to watch the proceedings via livestream in Ngā Mokopuna, the building adjacent to the wharenui.

When it is time for each graduate to receive their degree, whānau and friends viewing from Ngā Mokopuna will be able to briefly make their way into the wharenui to celebrate the award with an appropriate acknowledgement. They will then head back to Ngā Mokopuna to view the remainder of the ceremony.

Ticket pick-up instructions will be included in a further email direct from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori, along with a form to indicate if you and your whānau are attending the pōwhiri. You will also be asked to complete a personal bio, which will be read at the ceremony.

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.

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.

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 on the Grad Gear website.

Order of ceremony

  • Pōhiri / Formal welcome (held the day before the ceremonies)
  • 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.

Waiata

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

If you are no longer able to come to the ceremony

If you are unable to attend, let us know by 4 April for May ceremonies, or 31 October for December ceremonies by filling out this form.

If you submit the form by 4 April 2025 for the May 2025 ceremonies, we can transfer your graduation to another ceremony. After this date, transfers will be considered 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 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.