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Check the date, time and location of your ceremony and procession
All graduands and their guests must be seated in the Bruce Mason Centre 40 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
Auckland graduation ceremonies and celebrations
Hire gowns and academic dress (regalia)
All graduands crossing the stage must wear official academic regalia. Make you sure you have arranged to hire the correct academic dress for your qualification at least one month before the ceremony. You will receive a receipt after placing your order – this will show you when and where to pick it up and return it. Allow enough time to collect your regalia from the campus.
Massey has a preferred supplier arrangement for hiring academic dress with Academic Dress Hire.
Place your order on the Academic Dress Hire website.
Student and guest tickets
You'll receive a notification in the student portal (login required) when your tickets are available to download. This will be approximately 2 weeks before the graduation ceremony.
Make sure you print your student ticket and your guest tickets and bring them with you/your guests (or have them ready to show on your phones) on the day of graduation. Your student ticket states your row and seat number, so it is very important that you sit in the seat allocated to you.
Cellphones
Please ensure that all cellphones are turned off or on silent before entering the Bruce Mason Centre Theatre.
What not to bring
Graduands – please do not bring handbags, satchels, cameras, hand-held wallets, or any other small items to your seat. Leave such items with your guests.
Graduand and guest seating
All graduands and their guests must be seated in the Bruce Mason Centre 40 minutes before the start of each ceremony, so please allow yourself plenty of time to get to the venue and find your seat.
Graduands will be seated in a reserved section of the auditorium according to the order in which you will go on stage to receive your award. Our staff helpers will direct you to your seat. Guests may sit in any area that has not been reserved. Note your guests will only be admitted to the theatre if they hold a ticket.
If you have guest tickets you will not use, please contact the Events Office on nationalevents@massey.ac.nz so we can reallocate these tickets to those on the guest seating waitlist.
Special seating requirements
Guest seating is unreserved. If your guests require an aisle seat or a seat near the front, we recommend they arrive early for the best chance at their preferred seat.
For any other seating requirements (e.g. wheelchairs), please contact the Events Office on email nationalevents@massey.ac.nz.
Lost tickets
For lost seat tickets or other ticket problems, report to the Help Desk in the main foyer of the auditorium at least an hour before the ceremony, or contact us as soon as possible.
Find out about the ceremony
Graduation programme
All graduands will receive a complimentary copy of the programme at the ceremony.
Copies of the programme will be available for purchase in the foyer for $5.
Entrance of the academic and official procession
The audience is requested to rise as the academic and official processions enter at the commencement of each ceremony.
This is followed by a karanga (welcome), the University waiata (song), and the Chancellor's address.
Receiving your award
At the appropriate time, the various qualifications will be announced. Graduands will be guided by an usher to the stage before your qualification is announced.
Those graduating for the first time will carry their trencher (graduation hat) in their left hand, with the tassel placed on the left side of the trencher.
Previously capped students should wear their trencher during the procession and into the venue. However, as you leave your seat and approach the stage to have your award presented, you must then remove your trencher.
When your name is announced, approach the stage and stand directly before the Chancellor.
For certificate and diploma recipients the Chancellor will shake your hand. If you have been previously capped you may now put on your trencher.
For degrees and other qualifications, the Chancellor will ceremoniously cap you by holding a ceremonial trencher over your head, and shaking your hand. You should then put on your trencher or bonnet.
All recipients then cross to receive their graduation certificate, taking it in their right hand. Recipients will be guided by an usher to their seats. You have now officially graduated and you can now wear your trencher or bonnet for the remainder of the ceremony.
Graduates receiving two awards
If you are receiving two awards at the same ceremony, you will be allocated one seat and walk the stage once for your highest qualification. You will graduate in absentia for the other qualification. The awards will be presented together.
Conclusion of the ceremony
At the conclusion of the ceremony everyone will remain standing until those on the stage have withdrawn. Graduates will then follow the staff in procession out of the auditorium.
View photography options
The official photographer for the Auckland graduation ceremonies is Timeless Images Photography.
Capping photographs
All graduands will be photographed at the moment of capping during the ceremony.
Studio sittings at the venue
Two photography studios will be located on level 2 of the Bruce Mason Centre for individual and family photographs. These mini sessions are quick, easy, and affordable. This is a great opportunity to capture your day with a professional portrait.
The studios will be open during graduation days from 9am to 5pm. We recommend graduands book in advance as spaces are limited. Walk-ins may be possible on the day, subject to availability.
Visit the Timeless Images Photography website to book your studio sitting online.
Ordering your images
You can order your images online. Ceremony photographs will be online from 5pm the next day. Portrait images will be available from the Monday after your graduation.
Share the live streaming link with friends and whānau
Our graduation ceremonies are streamed live to allow friends and whānau from around the world to view your graduation as it happens.
A video recording of the full ceremony will also be available online shortly after the ceremony.
Getting help on the day
A graduation helpdesk is located in the Bruce Mason Centre foyer and is available one hour prior to each ceremony for assistance with graduation enquiries and seating requests. You can also contact us for assistance.