Graduation is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate your success.

Beginning in March, our graduation ceremonies, He Puāwaitanga, will be held across the motu for our tauira. These are a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge your achievement with the support of your whānau and/or friends.

He Puāwaitanga are a celebration of your achievements, and so at your ceremony, you will be invited to the stage to receive your tohu and take a photo with your kaiako. We'd like you to be comfortable, but also recognise the tikanga of the occasion and dress appropriately.

While we make every attempt to adhere to the programme schedule, these events can run over time as whānau and friends celebrate their loved ones. We encourage you to allow for extra time so you don't miss these significant moments.

Keep an eye out for your graduation email for more details.


Upcoming Graduations

He Puāwaitanga 2026

Dates, times, and venues will be added or may change as details are confirmed.

Porirua | Wellington

Venue: Te Rauparaha Arena

17 Parumoana Street, Porirua

Fri 6 March

Ceremony starts: 11am


Ōtepoti | Dunedin

Venue: Edgar Centre

116 Portsmouth Dr, Dunedin

Sat 7 March

Ceremony starts: 10am


Waiharakeke | Blenheim

Venue: Omaka Marae

120 Aerodrome Road, Blenheim

Thu 12 March

Ceremony starts: 1pm


Whanganui

Venue: Whanganui Jockey Club

19a Purnell Street, Whanganui

Fri 13 March

Ceremony starts: 10am


Ngāmotu | New Plymouth

Venue: Plymouth International

220 Courtenay Street, New Plymouth

Fri 13 March

Ceremony starts: 6pm


Ōtautahi | Christchurch

Venue: St Albans Baptist Church

54 McFaddens Road, St Albans

Sat 14 March

Ceremony 1 starts: 9am

Ceremony 2 starts: 1pm


Heretaunga | Hastings

Venue: Toi Toi Events Centre

109 Hastings Street, Hastings

Fri 20 March

Ceremony starts: 10am


Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Venue: Church Unlimited

3 Te Atatū Road, Glendene

Tue 24 March

Ceremony 1 starts: 11am

Ceremony 2 starts: 3pm


Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Venue: Church Unlimited

3 Te Atatū Road, Glendene

Wed 25 March

Ceremony 1 starts: 11am

Ceremony 2 starts: 3pm


Papaiōea | Palmerston North

Venue: Awapuni Racing Centre

67 Racecourse Road, Palmerston North

Thu 26 March

Ceremony starts: 10am


Kaitaia

Venue: TBC

Address TBC

Thu 9 April

Ceremony starts: 5pm


Kaikohe

Venue: TBC

Address TBC

Fri 10 April

Ceremony starts: 5pm


Whangārei

Venue: TBC

Address TBC

Sat 11 April

Ceremony starts: 1pm


Tainui | Hamilton

Venue: Claudelands Event Centre

Heaphy Terrace, Hamilton

Wed 22 April

Ceremony 1 starts: 10am

Ceremony 2 starts: 2pm


Tainui | Hamilton

Venue: Claudelands Event Centre

Heaphy Terrace, Hamilton

Thu 23 April

Ceremony starts: 10am


Tauranga

Venue: Bethlehem Baptist Church

90 Bethlehem Road, Tauranga

Fri 1 May

Ceremony starts: 10am


Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Venue: Church Unlimited

3 Te Atatū Road, Glendene

Mon 4 May

Ceremony 1 starts: 10am

Ceremony 2 starts: 3pm

Ceremony 3 starts: 8pm


Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Venue: Church Unlimited

3 Te Atatū Road, Glendene

Tue 5 May

Ceremony 1 starts: 10am

Ceremony 2 starts: 3pm

Ceremony 3 starts: 8pm


Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Venue: Church Unlimited

3 Te Atatū Road, Glendene

Wed 6 May

Ceremony 1 starts: 10am

Ceremony 2 starts: 3pm

Ceremony 3 starts: 8pm


Rotorua

Venue: Distinction Hotel

390 Fenton Street, Rotorua

Fri 8 May

Ceremony starts: 10am


Whakatāne

Venue: Whakatāne Baptist Church

67 Keepa Road, Whakatāne

Wed 13 May

Ceremony starts: 10am


Kawerau

Venue: Rautahi Marae

117 Onslow Street, Kawerau

Fri 15 May

Ceremony starts: 10am


Whirikōkā | Gisborne

Venue: War Memorial Theatre

159 Bright Street, Gisborne

Wed 10 June

Ceremony starts: 10am


Ōpōtiki

Venue: Ōpōtiki Deluxe Theatre

127 Church Street, Ōpōtiki

Fri 19 June

Ceremony starts: 1:30pm


Waihopai | Invercargill

Venue: SIT

133 Tay Street, Invercargill

Sat 5 September

Ceremony starts: 10am


Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Venue: Church Unlimited

3 Te Atatū Road, Glendene

Tue 24 November

Ceremony 1 starts: 11am

Ceremony 2 starts: 3pm


Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Venue: Church Unlimited

3 Te Atatū Road, Glendene

Wed 25 November

Ceremony 1 starts: 11am

Ceremony 2 starts: 3pm


Timelines

December

As your programme draws to an end, you should make sure we have your correct contact details. You can check your address, phone number and email address by calling Tatau Pounamu on 0800 355 553 or by emailing tataupounamu@twoa.ac.nz.

Tauira should check their contact details in 101. You can update your:

  • Address
  • Mobile
  • Email

This ensures we have the correct details to send your puāwaitanga invite and certificate to when these are available. We may also text, call, or email you if we are missing information or need to advise you of a change.


January - March

4 – 6 weeks before your graduation ceremony, you will receive an invitation to attend. You are not required to RSVP, but you will be advised how many guests you can bring with you.

The invitation will include details about when to arrive at the venue, what will happen during the event and when, and graduation kākāhu.


February - July

It’s time to attend your graduation ceremony, ka mau te wehi!


March - May

If you are unable to attend your graduation ceremony, your tohu will be sent to your address. This is why it’s important to update your details with us.


TERMINOLOGY

Academic dress / Regalia

Refers to the academic gown, and sash worn at Te Puāwaitanga.

Academic transcript

Record of study showing all your results.

Conferred

When you officially receive your degree.

Gown

The blue, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, coat that is worn.

Graduand

When you are eligible to graduate but have not had your qualification conferred / awarded.

Graduate

Once your degree has been conferred or your certificate / diploma has been awarded.

In absentia

You will not be attending a graduation ceremony and instead receive your certificate by mail

Kaimahi

Te Wānanga o Aotearoa staff member who assists graduands on the day of their ceremony to be in the right place at the right time.

Kāpuia

The name of our graduate community at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.

Sash

Worn with gown.


2025 Graduation books

Click here to download our Te Taitokeraru graduation book

Click here to download our Tāmaki Makaurau graduation book

Click here to download our Te Kei graduation book


2024 Graduation books

Click here to download our Te Kei graduation book

Click here to download our Tāmaki Makaurau graduation book

Click here to download our Kawerau graduation book

Click here to download our Te Taitokeau graduation book


2023 Graduation books

Click here to download our Ōtepoti graduation book

Click here to download our Papaioea graduation book

Click here to download our Porirua graduation book

Click here to download our Ōpōtiki graduation book

Click here to download our Tainui graduation book

Click here to download our Te Taitokerau graduation book

Click here to download our Whirikoka graduation book

Click here to download our Te Waipounamu graduation book

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