Graduating is conditional on completing and passing all your papers, returning any library books and resolving any outstanding payments or debts. If you are unsure, please contact your academic Whare Kaikōkiri to make sure you will be graduating.

Stay up to date with graduation news by downloading the Te Wānanga o Raukawa app from your devices app store, check your personal email (or junk folder) and add Te Wānanga o Raukawa as a contact.  

Communications are sent via email and text, and certificates sent to postal addresses that we have in our system according to your Te Ara enrolment portal information. 

Update your contact and Iwi details via the Te Ara enrolment portal.

*RSVP links will be sent in due course

To support us with preparations on the day, graduands will complete a registration to confirm if you will be attending in person or not.  You will be confirming your tohu, attendance and if you require accommodation the night before graduation.  

Additionally, you will be letting us know how many whānau you hope to be bringing and if you are requiring dinner/accomodation (if staying the night before graduation).   

Te Kawa o Te Ako applies to everyone staying at Te Wānanga o Raukawa and local Marae, this forbids the consumption of alcohol, vape, cigarettes and drugs on our campus, marae and outside kura, kōhanga or kōhungahunga.

If circumstances change and you are or are not able to attend in person, please let your academic whare know as soon as possible and complete an updated RSVP form.

RSVP link:

Please note, this link is only for graduating students.

This link will also be emailed to graduating students. 

Please check your personal email address (or junk folder) and remember to ensure your contact details are up to date. These may include legal name changes, postal and email addresses, cellphone number and iwi.

Accommodation will be available on campus and should we need it, at our local marae.  If you are reserving accommodation for the night before graduation day, please remember to bring blankets and personal items and register with Kaitiaki upon arrival.  

Alternatively you can book other accommodation through BookaBach, Airbnb, Ōtaki Motel and Littel Ōtaki. 

A pōwhiri will be held on Thursday 11th December (time tbc) on the Ōtaki Campus. For manuhiri staying, please gather outside Waitapu in front of the building Ōtaki. 

For anyone arriving the night prior (Thursday 11th December) and staying on campus, please park close to the portacoms and accommodation to free up the main carpark for graduation day.

For those accommodated on campus or at local marae, dinner will be available that evening and breakfast the morning of graduation.

If circumstances change you will need to complete an updated RSVP form and/or advise your academic whare Kaikōkiri as soon as possible.

Please check back soon to view our 2025 Graduation booklet. 

On the day ushers will also be handing out graduation books prior to the commencement of the ceremony. 

The term ‘He Purutanga Mauri’ and its use emerged during discussions in the late 1980s and early 1990 about honorary doctorates to recognise significant scholarship and/or contributions to understanding and progress, by certain kuia and koroua of the Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira Confederation. Discussion was initiated by rangatahi as a best attempt to acknowledge kuia and koroua who had passed down their knowledge and expertise. This led to conferral of the title ‘Purutanga Mauri’ in 1990.  It recognises contributions to wānanga but also recognition of the special knowledge and expertise held by each of them including their contributions to the rangatiratanga of the Confederation of Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira.  The title ‘He Purutanga Mauri’ is translated as ‘A Keeper of the Spiritual Life Principle’. 

In total, 15 kaumātua have been conferred as Purutanga Mauri.

Inducted in  1990: Pateriki Te Rei (1913-1995); Tukawekai Kereama (1919-1995); Rangiamohia Parata (1910-1999); Rongokino Hekenui (1914-1999).

Inducted in 1995: Ngāpukapuka Kereama (1912-2004); Te Whetūmārama o te Ata Kereama (1924-1996); Ruta Rene (1923-1996); Kiripuai Te Aomarere (1916-2007); Ngarongo Iwikatea Nicholson (1939-2017).

Inducted in 2005: Pōwhiri Lawton (1925-2012); Reimana Blackmore (1927-2015); Pita Richardson (1935-2019); Akuhata Akuhata (1935-2018); Whatarangi Winiata, Matiu Rei. 

Inducted in 2023: Denise Hapeta and Piripi Walker were inducted during the 2023 graduation ceremony.

The Constitution of Te Wānanga o Raukawa provides for purutanga mauri representation on Te Mana Whakahaere, the wānanga’s governing body. Alongside advice in matters of kawa and tikanga of the three founding iwi, recommendations for appointments, teaching, thesis examination and committee participation, Purutanga Mauri lead graduation ceremonies and are first in line to greet, congratulate and present taonga to graduands. Read more here.

Our practise as kaitiaki

Out of Whakatupuranga Rua Mano: Generation 2000 came the commitment expressed in the following principle:

The marae is our principal home, maintain and respect

This has many implications for the way in which tangata whenua and manuhiri will act on marae. In tikanga Māori, an accepted practice, procedure or protocol is known as a 'kawa'. Each marae or wähi Māori has its own kawa. The maintenance and adherence to the kawa is important to the tangata whenua of that place. To infringe on the kawa of a particular place demeans the home people. The tangata whenua will take steps to reaffirm their kawa. It may lead to a rebuke of the offending party right there and then, or the reaction may be delayed for maximum effect.

All marae seek to uphold kawa and at Te Wānanga o Raukawa we enforce Te Kawa o te Ako. They are the practices, procedures and protocols which protect and maximise the learning and teaching potential of students and staff of Te Wānanga o Raukawa. In particular, it aims to curb activity reducing the capacity to learn and teach.

One dimension of Te Kawa o te Ako, is that those who feel they cannot abstain from using drugs and alcohol should stay away. Those who disregard Te Kawa o te Ako put themselves and their whānau at risk of being challenged by those who feel the need to uphold Te Kawa o te Ako. The timing of the challenge may be selected to achieve maximum impact on the person who has 'broken the kawa'.  Read more here.

We remind anyone visiting our campus and sites to remain vigilant in protecting our most vulnerable. 

• Please do not come to graduation if you or your manuhiri are unwell or have any cold or flu-like symptoms. 
• Health and Safety obligations require everyone to register in or use the online sign in application Timecloud. QR codes will be located at key entrance points on campus and at the venue, scan this with your mobile phone which will open the Timecloud website on your mobile phone. Kaimahi will be located at each entry point and will be able to assist you. 

GRADUATION CONTACT INFORMATION 

Please see a list below of our Academic contact areas including an email for general information. 

Te Whare Kōrero (Te Reo studies, Whare Tapere)

• tewharekorero@twor-otaki.ac.nz

Te Whare Kōkiri (Mātauranga Māori, Puna Maumahara, Toi Whakarākai, Toko Mana, Karanga, Tū Whaikōrero)

• tewharekokiri@twor-otaki.ac.nz

Te Whare Oranga (Toiora Whānau, Kawa Oranga, Pūtaiao, Rongoā, Whakapiki Mauri)

• tewhareoranga@twor-otaki.ac.nz 

Te Whare Whakatupu Mātauranga (Ahunga Tikanga)

• ahungatikanga@twor-otaki.ac.nz 

Te Whare Whakaakoranga

• kelsi.mcarley@twor-otaki.ac.nz

Te Whare Aronui (Iwi and Hapū studies)

• iwiandhapustudies@twor-otaki.ac.nz

General Information

• marketing@twor-otaki.ac.nz