Palmerston North graduation ceremony checklist , Te rārangi tohu whakapōtaetanga i Te Papaioea

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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 Regent Theatre 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

Palmerston North 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 well before the ceremony (preferably one month before) to hire the correct academic dress for your qualification. The receipt you receive after placing your order will show you when and where to pick it up and return it. Collection of your regalia is from the Turitea campus so allow enough time for this.

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 prior to 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.

Cell phones

Please make sure all mobile phones are turned off or on silent before entering the Regent Theatre.

Graduand and guest seating

All graduands and their guests must be seated in the Regent Theatre 30 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, where you will find a complimentary copy of the Graduation programme. 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, 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

If you or your guests lose their seat tickets or have ticket problems, report to the graduation helpdesk in the main foyer of the Regent Theatre at least an hour before the ceremony.

Get your parking permit

A parking permit will be available for you to collect from Academic Dress Hire when you collect your gown. This all-day permit will provide free parking on the day of the ceremony. It can be used in any metered space in Palmerston North central business district.

Display your parking permit clearly in your vehicle's windscreen. Presentation of your parking permit will also entitle you to park at Downtown Carpark for a maximum charge of $5.

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 Regent Theatre foyer for $5. Eftpos is available.

Entrance of the academic and official processions

The audience is requested to rise as the academic and official procession enters the theatre at the commencement of the ceremony.

This is followed by a karanga (welcome), the University waiata (song) and 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 may wear their trencher during the procession and into the venue. However, as you leave your seat and approach the stage 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 the stage to receive their graduation certificate, taking it in their right hand. You will then be guided by an usher back to your seat. 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 ceremony

At the conclusion of the ceremony, everyone will remain standing until those on the stage have left the theatre. Graduates will then follow the staff out of the theatre and form a procession to the graduation celebration marquee in The Square, where graduates, guests and staff are invited to join for refreshments. .

View photography options

The official photographer for the Palmerston North graduation ceremonies is Shot360. All graduands will be photographed at the moment of capping during the ceremony.

Capping photographs

Order your capping photo online after the ceremony, or on the day at the portrait studios.

Portrait sittings

There will be two portrait photo studios set up in The Square. You can book a portrait sitting online or by phone to 0800 746 836.

Framing service

A degree or diploma framing service is available at The Square. Your degree can be framed while you wait. There are two different frame styles and two different mat colours to choose from. Framed capping photos or portraits can be ordered on the day.

Contact photographer

To arrange a portrait booking, order a capping photo or framing, contact the photographer: shot360.co.nz

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 graduation as it happens.

A video of the full ceremony will also be available to view shortly after the ceremony.

Graduation livestream

Get help on the day

A graduation helpdesk is located in the Regent Theatre 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.