Ngā Whakapōtaetanga Māori , Celebrations to honour Māori graduates

Kua roa nei mātau e whakahōnore ana i te angitū o te tauira Māori mā te whakatū pōwhakahōnore motuhake. Tirohia ngā kōrero kia whai wāhi ai koe.

We have a long tradition of honouring the success of Māori graduates with special Māori celebrations. Find out when and where they are and how to participate.

Person dressed in traditional Māori cloak singing a Māori song or waiata

Tēnā koutou katoa. We are now hosting Māori graduation ceremonies for all three campuses where graduands receive their degrees and diplomas in a Māori ceremony. Māori graduation ceremonies are open to all students.

In 2022 we hosted our first Māori Graduation Ceremony in Palmerston North at the Regent Theatre supported by manawhenua, Rangitāne.

Our long tradition of hosting celebrations for Māori graduates ended last year with our final celebration at Te Rau Karamu Marae. The new Māori Graduation Ceremony is replacing Māori graduate celebrations.

You are welcome to bring whānau and friends to Māori Graduation. Further details will be available soon. Please refer to our Graduation page.

What happens at Māori graduation

Here’s what will happen at the celebrations:

  • whakatau for manuhiri
  • graduates in their academic dress will be individually acknowledged with their degree and iwi affiliations and called to the stage to receive their degrees and diplomas
  • whānau will have the opportunity to mihi to them (for example, karanga, waiata, haka, karakia)
  • refreshments.

We are very excited to be able to host Māori Graduation. If you have any other questions please contact Robyn Matthews at r.m.matthews@massey.ac.nz

Bringing guests and tamariki

You are welcome to bring up to 10 guests with you to the celebrations. Children are welcome. It is inspiring for our tamariki to see the success of their whānau.

What to wear

You will be required to wear academic dress and the hood of your discipline. For information about what to wear and hiring academic dress see the Academic Dress Hire website.

Graduate speeches

Due to the number of students attending the Manawatū celebrations, graduates do not get the opportunity to kōrero, but can if they wish to at the Auckland and Wellington ceremonies.