Te Herenga Waka graduates stand tall

It is Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington graduation week, and the city is buzzing as students collect caps and gowns from Kelburn campus, and loved ones from airports and stations.

Graduation week begins with a Pasifika celebration in The Hub at Kelburn campus on Monday 25 May, at which the university will welcome Tongan royalty. Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Halaevalu Mata’aho Napua-o-kalahi Kuku’aho of Tonga will visit the University that day and will attend this special celebration.

Ceremonies at the Michael Fowler Centre will run from Tuesday 26 to Thursday 28 May for all faculties, and Te Hui Whakapūmau—the University’s tikanga Māori graduation ceremony—will take place on 29 May at Te Herenga Waka marae.

From the Government Buildings to Queens Wharf Square, over 2,700 graduates will parade through Pōneke on Tuesday 26 and Thursday 28 May. Among them will be New Zealand’s first graduates majoring in Space Science.

The University will also award PhDs to almost 60 graduates who have added significantly to research in their fields, across the sciences, social sciences, musical arts, and beyond.

Read stories about our graduates.

Graduation ceremonies

Monday 25 May

Pasifika celebration, 6 pm, The Hub, Kelburn campus

Tuesday 26 May

Time and location

Faculties

Ceremony 1

9.30 am, Michael Fowler Centre

  • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Iho Māori: Te Kawa a Māui

Ceremony 2

3 pm, Michael Fowler Centre

  • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Faculty of Law

Parade 1

1 pm, Old Government Buildings to Queen’s Wharf Square

Students from Faculties of Humanities and Social Sciences, Iho Māori, Law, Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences.

Wednesday 27 May

Time and location

Faculties

Ceremony 3

9.30 am, Michael Fowler Centre

  • Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences.

Ceremony 4

3 pm, Michael Fowler Centre

  • Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Thursday 28 May

Time and location

Faculties

Ceremony 5

9:30 am, Michael Fowler Centre

  • Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation.

Ceremony 6

3 pm, Michael Fowler Centre

  • Wellington School of Business and Government.

Parade 2

1 pm, Old Government Buildings to Queen’s Wharf Square

Students from Faculties of Science and Engineering, Architecture and Design, and Wellington School of Business and Government.

Friday 29 May—Te Hui Whakapūmau

Time and location

Faculties

Ceremony 7

9.30 am, Te Herenga Waka Marae

  • Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation
  • Faculty of Education, Health, and Psychological Sciences
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Science and Engineering
  • Wellington School of Business and Government.

Ceremony 8

2 pm, Te Herenga Waka Marae

  • Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Iho Māori