Big Day Out for Waiariki Students

WAIARIKI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Press Release
For Immediate Release
Wednesday 25 February 2004

Graduands on Parade - Big Day Out for Waiariki Students

Nearly 140 graduands will be parading in all their gowned glory on 4 and 5 March to receive their diplomas and degrees from Waiariki Institute of Technology - and in recognition of all their hard work and dedication the public are being encouraged to line the streets in support.

In keeping with Waiariki’s commitment to biculturalism, two graduation ceremonies will take place, with students able to choose which graduation ceremony they attend.

According to Chris Walls, Administrator for Support Services at Waiariki Institute of Technology, months of preparation go into the organisation of the graduation, “…but it is all worth it when you see the pride and joy on the faces of the graduands and their families. This is the first year we have a graduand from the Bachelor of Computing Systems – Maureen Eru. Maureen is a mother of two and has been chosen as Valedictorian for the Convention Centre ceremony. She is the first member of her family to get a degree so I know she will have huge support from her family there”.

On Thursday 4 March the procession for the Marae ceremony starts from Waiariki’s main administration building at Mokoia Campus at 1.45pm and then around the ring road to Tangatarua Marae where the ceremony starts at 2pm. Joseph Ransfield and Lucy Kereopa are the joint Valedictorians for the Marae graduation, both receiving a Bachelor of Nursing. Guest speaker will be Dr Angus Macfarlane (Ngati Whakaue/Ngati Rangiwewehi), a Senior Lecturer at the School of Education, Waikato University, who this year himself received a Doctorate of Philosophy.

On Friday 5 March the graduation procession starts from the Rotorua City Focus (near Waiariki’s new downtown centre, Waiariki in Focus) at 1.45, down Tutanekai Street and along Arawa Street to the Rotorua Convention Centre, where the ceremony starts at 2pm. Guest speaker at the Convention Centre will be Cindy Gibbons, a successful businesswomen and more recently seen as a panelist on TV1’s How’s Life.

Waiariki Graduation Facts
- There are 139 graduands in 2004 – 60 at the Marae and 79 at the Convention Centre. 61 students are graduating in abstentia.
- Guest speakers
o Dr Angus Macfarlane, Thursday 4 March 2004 at Tangatarua Marae
o Cindy Gibbons, Friday 5 March at Rotorua Convention Centre
- Graduands receiving a degree wear a hood (coloured cape) over the standard academic gown, with a trencher or mortar board on their head
- Graduands receiving a diploma wear a gown, with a burnished gold coloured stole on top, draped around the neck
- Students can choose to wear a korowai, Maori cloak, over the standard academic gown
- Degrees will be conferred by Mr Deryck Shaw, Chairperson of Waiariki Council
- Students will assemble for group photographs following both ceremonies

List of Graduating Programmes
Waiariki Diploma in Business Computing
New Zealand Diploma in Business
Waiariki Diploma in Information and Communications Technology Level 5
Unitec Bachelor of Computing Systems
National Diploma in Forestry (Forest Management)
National Diploma in Wood Processing Technology
Waiariki Diploma in Hospitality Management
Waiariki Diploma in Tourism Management
Waiariki Bachelor of Tourism Management
Waiariki Diploma in Art & Design
Waiariki Diploma in Te Reo Maori
Waiariki Diploma in Journalism
Waiariki Bachelor of Maori Studies
Waiariki Bachelor of Nursing
Waiariki Diploma of Teaching – Early Childhood Education
Waiariki Bachelor of Applied Social Science

ENDS

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