Te Hui Whakapūmau
Find information on how to get to Te Hui Whakapūmau, what to expect on the day, view the order of ceremony, and download waiata.
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 at Ngā Mokopuna (formerly the Living Pā).
You can indicate that you want to celebrate your graduation at Te Hui Whakapūmau when you apply to graduate.
This year we will hold two ceremonies at Ngā Mokopuna, both on Friday 12 December.
Graduates and their families are also welcome to attend a pōwhiri on Thursday 11 December at 10 am.
Ceremony 4—Friday 12 December 9.30 am
- Te Wāhanga Aronui—Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Iho Māori—Te Kawa a Maui
- Te Whānau o Ako Pai—Faculty of Education
- Te Wāhanga Tātai Hauora—Faculty of Health
- Te Wāhanga Waihanga-Hoahoa—Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation
Ceremony 5—Friday 12 December 2 pm
- Te Kauhanganui Tātai Ture—Faculty of Law
- Ōrauariki—Wellington School of Business and Government
- Te Wāhanga a Manaia—Faculty of Science and Engineering
Inviting guests
Students registered to attend Te Hui Whakapūmau will receive an email with further details about the ceremony.
Traditionally, tickets are not needed, and there is no limit to the number of whānau and friends you are welcome to invite to celebrate this special occasion.
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.
Pōwhiri
The pōwhiri (welcome) for all Te Hui Whakapūmau graduates will be held the day before at 10 am on Thursday 11 December at Te Tumu Herenga Waka.
This is so we can fulfill our cultural obligations and ensure there is enough time for two graduation ceremonies on Friday 12 December 2025. There is no official pōwhiri on graduation day.
You and your whānau are welcome to be part of this pōwhiri, but we appreciate that some whānau may still be travelling at that time.
Order of ceremony
- Pōwhiri / 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.
Withdrawal in advance
If you applied to graduate during a ceremony at the Michael Fowler Centre but are now unable to attend, use this form to confirm your withdrawal. The deadlines for withdrawing are:
- 4 April for May ceremonies
- 31 October for December ceremonies.
Unwell on the day of graduation
If you are unwell, do not attend your ceremony. Use this form to confirm your withdrawal.
- If you want to attend one of the next set of ceremonies, let us know in the 'Reason for Withdrawing' section.
- If you don't want to attend another ceremony, check the postal address shown in the form as this is where we will send your certificate.