Please find below some important key information that will help you on the day. 

Please click here to view the full version of our recent panui with all key updates regarding graduation. 

PARKING 

Parking will be available at our Te Wānanga o Raukawa main carpark with entry from 41 Te 

Rauparaha St; and the Ōtaki township in the following areas:

• Behind the Ōtaki Museum, access from Main St or Rangatira St

• By the Ōtaki RSA, access from Raukawa St

• Rangiātea Church, access from Te Rauparaha St

And on the following streets as directed by kaimahi:

• Te Rauparaha St

• Hadfield St

• Tasman Road

Kaumātua can still be dropped off at the venue close to the Kura and field (refer to map). Shuttles will be available to help transport those who need it from the carpark. 

Please follow the signs and directions from Te Wānanga o Raukawa (TwoR) kaimahi wearing orange hi-viz vests. 

Remember to arrive in plenty of time to walk from your park to the Kura field by Ngā Purapura at 8.45am. It will take approximately four to five minutes to walk from the Te Wānanga o Raukawa car park to the pōwhiri gathering area. 

Our kaimahi will be on hand to direct and answer any queries.

For anyone arriving the night prior (Thursday 5 December), and staying on campus, please park close to the portacoms and accommodation to free up the main carpark for graduation day.

In the event of wet weather, you are welcome to take cover in the student hub located in Te Ara a Tāwhaki or the cup of tea tent (location 17) before gathering for the pōwhiri at 8.45am.

PROGRAMME 

9.00am: Whakaaraara - Pūtātara, Karanga, Haka Pōwhiri

9.30am: Mihi, Karakia Whakapūmau

9.45am: Presentation of Awards

11.00am: Kapu Tī announcement

2.00pm: Hākari/Entertainment

Following the sounding of the pūtātara, the karanga to begin will start promptly at 9.00am, please gather by the western entrance to Ngā Purapura, on the field closest to the Kura by 8.45am, marshalls wearing purple TwoR branded bucket hats will be there to direct you. 

Once graduands and manuhiri are gathered you will be briefed on what to expect as you enter Mauri Tū, please listen carefully. We ask that you move quickly to fill the raised seating. Kaumātua and those less abled will be directed by marshalls to suitable seating. 

There will be a check in service desk behind 

the raised seating to leave any coats, large bags or items, and prams. Health and safety 

requirements require aisles to be kept clear. 

Once everyone is inside and the haka pōwhiri is complete, this is followed immediately by the mihimihi and karakia whakapūmau.

After this, graduands starting with Te Whare Kōrero (Tāhuhu Reo Māori) will be directed to the marshalling area (No. 4 on map) in order of ceremony as per the graduation book and the 

announcement and acknowledgement of graduands will begin. 

Screens located in the marshalling area and outside will display the order of students graduating by academic Whare and then by level of qualification beginning with Tāhuhu (Masters), Poutāhū (Postgraduate diploma), Poutuarongo (Bachelor degree) and Heke (Diploma). This will be announced throughout the day. 

If you are graduating please ensure you stay up to date with where proceedings are at throughout the day. An up to date copy of the graduation book will be available on our website. The days events will conclude with entertainment and hākari at about 2pm/2.30pm. We encourage all graduates and whānau to stay and enjoy the hākari and entertainment afterwards.

Te Rā Whakapūmau will be livestreamed via our Te Wānanga o Raukawa website and the links shared across our social media platforms.

MAURI TŪ – NGĀ PURAPURA 

Haka Tautoko

Whānau are welcome to celebrate the success of graduates through karanga, pao or haka tautoko as the name of the graduate is presented on screen. Please make your way to the front, left hand side of the stage (refer to map above). Please do not perform haka from the raised seating (bleachers) inside Mauri Tū. 

Ushers/Marshalls will be able to advise or answer any queries.

MOBILE PHONES

Please be respectful of other graduating students and switch your phones to silent or turn off when in Mauri Tū.

PHOTOGRAPHY 

There will be both formal and informal photography. Formal photography is taking place in Te Ara a 

Tāwhaki (location 19/20 on map). Marshalls will direct you to formal individual photos after your 

presentation. In acknowledgement of your contribution towards the mātauranga continuum you 

will recieve one free digital copy of your individual portrait and can book a group photo at the same 

time. We encourage you to make the most of our professional photographer with your manuhiri or 

classmates on your day. The cost for a digital portrait of the group photo is $10 and must be paid for 

on the day. Your photograph(s) will be emailed to you before Christmas. Any informal photographs 

will be uploaded on to our Facebook page following graduation.

FIRST AID 

Te Puna Hauora o Ōtaki and Raukawa Whānau Ora will be onsite for any medical emergency. 

Whānau are encouraged to take advantage of the free health checks (location 12 on map).

Please click here to view our Graduation Booklet for 2024!

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

For our most recent panui regarding graduation please click here.

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.

Please click here to view our FAQs.

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.

You can find the RSVP link here. 

Please note, this link is only for graduating students.

This link has also been 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 5 December, 5pm on the Ōtaki Campus for manuhiri staying please gather outside Waitapu, in front of the building Ōtaki. 

For anyone arriving the night prior (Thursday 5 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 served at 5.30pm that evening and breakfast at 7am 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.

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

• Mask wearing is no longer mandatory but still strongly encouraged for our vulnerable whānau.  
• Please do not come to graduation if you or your manuhiri are unwell or have any cold or flu-like symptoms. 
• We encourage testing prior to the day and on the day before arriving at the venue.
• 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. 

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.

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.

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)

• irenibelle.bernard@twor-otaki.ac.nz

• Kara.Henare@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

• terahera.hibbs@twor-otaki.ac.nz and,

• 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