He Puāwaitanga
Graduation
A moment of pride, joy, and transformation.
Te hua o te whakapōtaetanga ki te tauira
What graduation means for our tauira
Graduation is more than a ceremony. For many of our tauira, this is the very first time hearing their name called to receive a tohu (certificate) and being cheered on by whānau. It’s a powerful recognition of every late night, every challenge overcome, and every dream kept alive.
At Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, your graduation is not just about your achievement – it’s also about the whānau, hapū, iwi, and community who walk this journey with you.
Mō wai te whakapōtaetanga?
Who can graduate?
Any tauira who successfully completes their programme can graduate. He Puāwaitanga are our graduation ceremonies, held from March onwards across the motu to celebrate your achievement.
You’ll be able to graduate when:
You’ve successfully completed your programme requirements
Your results are finalised and confirmed
You don’t have any outstanding fees or library items
You've received an invitation to attend
If you’re unsure, talk with your kaiako or student support advisor. Keep an eye out for your graduation email for more details.
Te whakahaeretanga o tō whakapōtaetanga
What to expect at your graduation
He Puāwaitanga are formal occasions, steeped in tikanga Māori, where we honour you and your whānau. What you’ll experience:
Inspiring kōrero from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa leaders and manuhiri
The opportunity to have your photo taken with your kaiako
An area where you can get additional photos with your friends and whānau
The moment your name is called, and you walk across the stage to receive your tohu
Waiata, karakia, and the collective joy of tauira, whānau, and kaimahi celebrating together
This day is about you. It’s about showing your tamariki, mokopuna, and community what’s possible when you believe in yourself.
Please note: Graduations may run over time as whānau celebrate their loved ones. Please allow extra time so you don’t miss these special moments.
Mō te whakapōtaetanga
Graduations | Frequently asked questions
Each ceremony across the country reflects the regions customs and protocols.
Once you’re eligible, you’ll receive an invitation with everything you need to know. You'll need to register to attend a graduation. This helps us prepare seating and kai for all our manuhiri (visitors).
When registering, you’ll be asked to:
Complete the online form
Confirm we have your correct address (this is important even if you're not attending graduation as we'll use this address to post out your tohu (certificate))
Confirm how many of your whānau will attend (limits may apply)
Confirm any dietary requirements
If you don’t register, you won’t be able to take part in the ceremony - but you'll still graduate and we'll send your qualification to you by post.
We'd like you to be comfortable, but also recognise the tikanga of the occasion so please dress smartly. In some cases, graduation gowns will be available to use free of charge. We also encourage you to celebrate you – wear taonga, korowai, traditional or cultural attire with pride.
Your whānau are an essential part of this celebration.
Each graduate can bring guests (numbers may be limited depending on the venue)
Accessibility support is available, just let us know when you register
Details about how many guests you can bring will be provided in your invitation.
We know life happens, and sometimes you can’t be at the ceremony. Don’t worry, you’ll still graduate.
Your tohu will be officially awarded
We’ll send your tohu to you by post (make sure we have your correct address)
You’ll be welcomed into our Kāpuia whānau (graduate community), whether you’re on stage or celebrating from home
When you pass your programme, you will receive two tohu.
A Te Wānanga o Aotearoa tohu that includes the name of the programme
An NZQA tohu that includes the qualification you've passed
Yes, we can send it to any address. Please make sure you update your details with us prior to your graduation.
Yes. We only issue a replacement if your original is damaged and you’ve returned the damaged tohu to:
Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
Registry Department
320 Factory Road
Te Awamutu 3800
No, we provide tohu in printed form only.
Some programmes have a name we use for teaching and marketing - this is the programme name.
The qualification name is the official NZQA title that appears on your Record of Learning and your NZQA tohu.
Both names refer to the same study pathway, but the NZQA title must follow the national framework.
Example:
Programme name: Te Ara Reo Māori (He Pī Ka Pao) Levels 1 and 2
Qualification name: New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (Reo Rua) Level 1, New Zealand Certificate in Te Reo (Reo Rua) Level 2
Most programmes at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa are approved by NZQA. That means we are accredited to deliver programmes that meet national standards.
You can also search the qualification on the NZQA framework to confirm. https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/nzqf/search/results.do
For most of our programmes, instead of unit standards, you’ll complete kōnae ako (learning modules) that have been developed by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to reflect te ao Māori and the needs of our tauira.
These are fully assessed and count towards your qualification
Kōnae ako themselves won’t appear on your NZQA Record of Learning
Your official NZQA Record of Learning will show the qualification name, which may differ from the name of the programme that you have enrolled in
Check out the programme page for more information about the programme and qualification you'll receive.
NZQA accreditation requires an additional fee to include the kōnae ako (learning modules) on the Record of Learning. This cost is not currently funded by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Yes. Your academic record will automatically be generated and sent to you once your programme has been fully closed.
Although your classes may be finished, results are not official until the programme is formally signed off by the Takiwā Academic Committee. This process ensures that all results are accurate, complete, and officially verified before they are released.