Key Graduation Information

Applying to graduate

Applications to graduate in 2026 will open soon.

All graduands, whether attending graduation in person or in absentia (receiving their award via post), must complete the online 'Apply to Graduate' form to receive their qualification tohu.

If you are eligible to graduate, you will receive an email inviting you to submit your ‘Apply to Graduate’ form online.  It will be sent to your personal email address. You will be able to click on and complete the form via our website. You will receive an email response to confirm that you wish to receive your tohu in person or in absentia.

To ensure that you receive your special invitation, please check your personal email address is correct in Urutauira.  While you are there, check and update your mobile contact details, as we will send you a pānui by text with any wet weather updates.  If your personal email address is a Hotmail or other Microsoft email account, please ensure that you add the Wānanga to your safe senders or whitelist. This helps to ensure that you receive emails about your graduation.

Graduation fees

Graduation Fees can be paid at the campus before or during registration week.

Fees for graduation are:
$ 50.00 for Undergraduate, Masters, Postgraduate and Doctoral programmes. 
$ 25.00 for all other programmes

Online payments will be accepted prior to registration week as will Eftpos and cash at the Whakatāne campus reception. For payments made during registration week - Eftpos, credit card and cash will be accepted at the graduation registration desk. If your organisation or a third party requires an invoice to pay your fees, please contact the graduation team as soon as possible.

Online payments can be paid into our Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi account.
Account number: 12-3253-0067389-01 
Particulars: Graduation Fee
Reference: Full Name

For postgraduate certificates and diplomas or for those who are graduating with more than one qualification on the day, your academic dress and therefore your fees may be dependent on other qualifications you currently hold.  If you are unsure, please contact us.

Registering your arrival for the graduation ceremony

If you intend to attend the Graduation Ceremony, you must register in person at the Whakatāne campus between 9.00am to 7pm, Wednesday 29 April 2026 or 9.00am to 9.00pm on Thursday 30 May 2026.  If you are unable to attend during this time, please speak with your Kaiako.

Registration includes collecting your gown, kai tickets, and payment of any graduation fees due.

Graduating in absentia

Choosing to graduate in absentia does not mean you can skip the application process.

You must still complete the online Apply to Graduate form and select “In Absentia” as your RSVP option to receive your qualification tohu. This means you won’t attend a graduation ceremony, but your name will appear in the graduation ceremony programme along with the words “in absentia”.

Your graduation certificate will be posted to you after the ceremony approximately 3 weeks after the meeting date. Graduates residing within New Zealand will receive their tohu by courier, and graduates residing outside New Zealand will also have their tohu sent by international courier, to the address provided in their graduation application.

All certificates sent are couriered with track and trace, and a signature may be required upon delivery. PO Box addresses are not accepted.

If you do not receive your graduation certificate, you must notify us. A replacement fee may apply.

Graduation booklet

If you are unable to attend graduation but would like a digital copy of the graduation booklet you will be able to download or view here.

Graduation Photos

An official photograph will be taken as you receive your Tohu. This photo and a carefully curated selection of other graduation photographs will be available to view and download within 2-3 weeks of the ceremony. A link to the library will be added to this page and shared on our social media channels.

Some of these photos may be used for future marketing purposes so you will be asked to provide or decline permission for that when you collect your regalia.

Livestreaming

If you or your whānau can’t make graduation in person, the graduation ceremony is streamed in real (NZ) time, commencing approximately 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony.

We will be livestreaming from our Facebook page.  We will share the link closer to the date.

Graduation marae accommodation

Select ‘yes’ under Marae accommodation in the Graduation application form if you require accommodation support. Please note that completing this section does not confirm a booking.  A member of our team will contact you with further information about availability, costs (if applicable), and next steps.

You can keep up to date with graduation information by following our website and Facebook page.