Lower Hutt Events Centre 2025

We're excited to have the opportunity to parade to the Lower Hutt Events Centre the morning of graduation. We will parade from the garden area by the War Memorial Library along the path and back towards the front entrance of the events centre. 

Graduands joining the parade will need to meet in the garden area by 9:45AM and the parade will start 10AM.  

Who can join the procession: 

• Graduands of the ceremony on 30 April are invited to the morning hikoi at 10AM.
• Graduands will need to be dressed in their full regalia to parade. Final pick-up for regalia before the parade will be from the events centre.
• Whānau and friends, along with Whitireia and WelTec kaimahi are welcome to join in support of our graduands.
• We request graduands do not parade any other time than the hikoi.
• If you have family members and friends who wish to cheer you on during the hikoi, they are most welcome as long as they aren’t blocking any of the planned route and accessways.
• Graduands do not have to join the procession. If you choose not to hikoi, head straight to the events centre by 10:15AM for your ceremony.
• If you need assistance along the hikoi route, please speak to a marshal.  

Banners or Flags: 

• You are welcome to bring a celebratory banner or flag with you, but you will be responsible for carrying and appropriately storing it before entering the events centre.

Footwear: 

• Please wear sensible footwear during the hikoi. You will be able to change shoes at the events centre if desired. 

Carparking: 

• Car parking is available at and around the Lower Hutt events centre, the War Memorial Library and surrounding streets.
• Please ensure you are not blocking or parking in bus stops, and non-designated parking areas.
• Please respect the speed limits when driving around the events centre and be mindful of additional pedestrians on-site on the day.  
• For additional parking information please click here.

Traffic Management: 

• There will be no road closures or traffic management in place for this hikoi, however, it is taking place in a public space so please be respectful of members of the public.  
• Please respect our team and follow their instructions when navigating around the route. 

Cancellation: 

• The hikoi will be cancelled in the event of adverse weather. Graduands will be advised via email on Tuesday 29 April by 9AM if the hikoi is unable to go ahead. Any cancellations will also be shared on our social channels.
• In the event of cancellation of the hikoi, please arrive at the events centre in time for your ceremony by 10:15AM . 

• Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at the venue as you need to be there at least one hour prior to the commencement time. Commencement time.
• Ensure you head straight to the registration room and get signed in as present by a staff marshal as we need to know you are here and ready to graduate.  (If you haven’t collected your regalia prior to your Graduation Ceremony this will need to be collected first and we will have staff available to direct you to the right location)
• You will then line up in programme order and seating order within the registration room space
• It is important that you stay in the correct order.  If you are unsure about anything, please speak to a staff marshal.

It is essential that you allow enough time to find a carpark.  Street parking near the Lower Hutt Events Centre in Lower Hutt is often a two-hour maximum.  Find parking information >

The Ceremony will take approximately two hours. As a sign of respect for those graduating, please make sure that you and your guests remain seated until the end of the Ceremony

Order of Ceremony 

• Pōwhiri
• Procession of graduands into the Auditorium
  Guests stand as the official party, academic staff and graduands enter the auditorium 
• Mihi Whakatau and Karakia
• Himene
• Welcome and Address
• Guest Speaker
• Conferment of Qualifications 
• Reply of thanks on behalf of students
• Closure
• Karakia Whakamutunga
• Conclusion
  Guests stand as the graduates, academic staff and official party leave the auditorium 

Business

• New Zealand Diploma in Business
• Bachelor of Applied Business Management - Accounting
• Bachelor of Applied Business Management - Business Analysis and Knowledge Management
• Bachelor of Applied Business Management - Marketing and Sales
• Bachelor of Applied Business Management - Supply Chain and Logistics Management
• Postgraduate Certificate in Management
• Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Practice
• Postgraduate Diploma in Management - Marketing
• Postgraduate Diploma in Management - Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Postgraduate Diploma in Management - Information Systems, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Postgraduate Diploma in Management - Information Systems, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Marketing
• Postgraduate Diploma in Management - Information Systems & Marketing
• Postgraduate Diploma in Management - Digital Business, Information Systems, Innovation & Entrepreneurship
• Postgraduate Diploma in Management - Digital Business, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Marketing
• Postgraduate Diploma in Management - Digital Business
• Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Practice
• Master of Management - Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Marketing
• Master of Management - Information Systems, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Marketing
• Master of Professional Practice - Education
• Master of Professional Practice - Leadership

Information Technology

• New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems
• New Zealand Diploma in Information Technology Technical Support
• Graduate Diploma in Cybersecurity
• Graduate Diploma in Information Technology
• Postgraduate Certificate in Information Technology
• Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology
• Bachelor of Information Technology - Cyber Security
• Bachelor of Information Technology - Networking & Infrastructure
• Bachelor of Information Technology - Software Development
• Bachelor of Information Technology - Applied Data Science
• Master of Information Technology
  

Engineering

• New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology
• New Zealand Diploma in Construction - Quantity Surveying
• New Zealand Diploma in Engineering - Civil
• New Zealand Diploma in Engineering - Mechanical

Creative

• New Zealand Diploma in Arts and Design (Level 5)
• New Zealand Diploma in Arts and Design (Level 6)
• New Zealand Diploma in Dance
• New Zealand Diploma in Drama
• New Zealand Diploma in Performing Arts
• New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production (Level 5)
• New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production (Level 6)
• New Zealand Diploma in Writing for Creative Industries
• Graduate Diploma in Publishing (Applied)
• Bachelor of Creativity - Digital Media
• Bachelor of Creativity (Performing Arts) - Dance
• Bachelor of Creativity (Performing Arts) - Drama
• Bachelor of Creativity (Performing Arts) - Musical Theatre

Hospitality

• New Zealand Diploma in Cookery (Advanced)
• New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management

All students who have successfully completed the requirements of their programme of study are entitled to graduate.  This includes the requirement to have all fees paid and library items returned.  

If you would like a reminder from our team to let you know applications are open you can register your interest.

Imagery from the graduation will be available for you to download ‘free-of-charge’ approximately five-weeks after the date of the ceremony. A link to the imagery folder will be shared to the email address graduand’s used to register for the graduation ceremony.

Please respect your fellow graduands privacy by only downloading your images from the shared link.

Don’t want photos? Tell our graduation volunteers prior to walking onto stage if you do not want to have any formal imagery taken by our photographers.

Contact Graduationinfo@wandw.ac.nz if you would like further information.