Graduation parade

The street parades are a highlight of our graduation celebrations. If you’re attending a ceremony, we encourage you to take part.

Parade date and time

To take part in the parade, you must register and attend a ceremony and wear your academic dress.

Tuesday 14 May 2024—parade at 1 pm

  • Wellington School of Business and Government
  • Faculty of Law
  • Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design
  • Wellington Faculty of Health

Thursday 16 May 2024—parade at 1 pm

  • Wellington Faculty of Engineering
  • Wellington Faculty of Science
  • Wellington Faculty of Education
  • Wellington Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Academic dress

You must wear academic dress to take part in the parade. Academic dress can only be hired by those attending a ceremony. You can’t hire academic dress for the parade and then decide not to attend a ceremony—your hireage will be cancelled.

Assembly point

Each parade will leave the Law School, Government Buildings, Lambton Quay at 1 pm.

Arrive at 12.45 pm and assemble behind your faculty sign. You must be wearing your academic dress.

Graduation parade route

We will walk from the Law School along Lambton Quay and Willis Street, before turning down Mercer Street and into Te Ngākau Civic Square.

At this point there will be speeches that congratulate all graduates.

A map showing the street parade route during graduation.

Safety information

The parade is for graduates only. For legal and safety reasons family and friends must remain on the footpaths.

While the southbound lane of the parade route will be closed, the northbound lane will remain open for traffic. The bus lane on Lambton Quay will be open to buses while the parade assembles and processes.

Cancellation procedures

If the parade is cancelled, notices will be placed on the Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington Facebook page and on our website on the morning of the parade.

You can also call the University on 0800 04 04 04.

Cancellation will be for the parade only—all ceremonies and receptions will proceed.

Speak to someone

Graduation Office

Phone: +64 4 463 5389
Email: graduation@vuw.ac.nz