Otago Polytechnic have two Dunedin graduation ceremonies every year. Schools/Colleges based at the Dunedin Campus are split between a March ceremony or a December ceremony. Capable NZ candidates eligible to graduate in the December ceremony are contacted by email in October each year.  Those eligible for the March ceremony are contacted in February.

Students must graduate within 18 months of attaining their qualification and can attend an Otago Polytechnic graduation ceremony in either Dunedin or Auckland.

You must register for graduation online via the link sent to your email address. The link will be sent to both your personal and Otago Polytechnic email address, however you need only respond once. 

It is important that all your contact information is up to date so you do not miss important graduation messages we send.

When registering for graduation you will be asked to tell us;

• whether you will be graduating in person or in absentia
• whether you will be attending the Maori Pre-Graduation Celebration and/or your School Pre-Graduation Function
• about any special seating arrangements required for yourself or your guests
• your academic dress height and head size information. 

Gown Room Location

Click here to see a complete campus map >

Please see the Quick Guide to Graduation for information on the Capable NZ Pre-Graduation Function.

Ceremony Two - 12.30 pm

Registration of graduands will begin in the Glenroy Auditorium promptly at 2.30pm. All graduands must be ready at that time, and in appropriate academic dress. If you arrive later than 2.30pm or without academic dress, you may not be permitted to take part in the Ceremony. Please note: Guests are to enter the Dunedin Town Hall through the main entrance on Moray Place.

The Opening Ceremony

The Chair of Council, Otago Polytechnic staff and members of the Official Party will enter the Dunedin Town Hall by procession at 3.25pm. The Ceremony will open at 3.30pm with a Karaka and Mihi Maiōhā, followed by a welcome to graduands and guests by the Chair of Council. The Presentation of Awards will then commence.

Karaka and Mihi Maiōhā

In 2013, Otago Polytechnic re-signed the 10 year old Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Papatipu Rūnaka ki Arai-Te-ūru (Moeraki, Puketeraki, Ōtākou and Hokonui). Much progress has been made in strengthening the relationship between the Papatipu Rūnaka and the Polytechnic with the implementation and monitoring of the Maori Strategic Framework which was developed from the MOU. Since March 2007, as an acknowledgement of this important relationship, Otago Polytechnic Graduation Ceremonies commence with karaka and a mihi maiōhā.

The purpose of the mihi maiōhā is to greet, in Māori, all visitors and all graduands to this place, while also acknowledging Kai Tahu’s place in the Otago Polytechnic Graduation Ceremony. A mihi maiōhā is not surrounded by the formality of powhiri and differs from mihi whakatau in that this ceremonial begins and ends with the woman’s or women's voice through karaka (or karanga in Northern dialect).

The mihi maiōhā will contain an element of the recitation of the landscape and our tūpuna (ancestral names within it). It will briefly welcome all those attending the graduation to the place of those ancestors and will acknowledge that it is an honour for Kai Tahu to have been invited to participate in the graduation ceremony.

Following the maiōhā there will be a waiata kī naki (song of support for the maiōhā), E tu Kahikatea sung by staff and it will end with the karaka once more to signal its closure.

Presentation of qualifications 

All Certificates will be presented first, followed by Diplomas and Degrees. Awards will be presented Department by Department. Graduands’ names are all read alphabetically.

Conferring of Degrees

For those receiving Masters and Bachelor Degrees, please hold the trencher in your left hand when making your way onto the stage. The Chairperson will confer your Degree by holding a trencher over your head.  For those receiving Postgraduate Degrees, please wear your trencher onto the stage. The Chairperson will shake your hand and the Chief Executive will then hand you your Degree. Once you have received your Degree you should then put on your trencher and continue across the stage and exit by the steps at the far side.  The trencher should be worn for the remainder of the ceremony.

You will not necessarily return to the same seat after you have been across the stage, so it is best not to bring cameras, handbags, or other items into the Dunedin Town Hall. Please note that there will be no facilities in the Dunedin Town Hall for leaving valuables; these should therefore be left with friends or family members.

Special Student Awards

The Special Student Awards will be presented by the Chief Executive following the academic award presentations. Those students receiving Special Student Awards will be notified in writing prior to the Graduation Ceremony.

Conclusion of Ceremony

The award presentation will be followed by the singing of the National Anthem. The Official Party will then leave the Dunedin Town Hall in procession.

As a graduand, you do not require a ticket to the Graduation Ceremony for yourself. Four guest tickets will be allocated to each graduand who registers to attend the Graduation Ceremony. Applications for extra tickets can be made by emailing graduation@op.ac.nz
Extra ticket requests will be assessed following the closing of the registration (date to be advised).  Extra ticket allocations will be confirmed by email soon after this date.

Tickets will be available to collect with your academic dress at the Otago Polytechnic Gown Room (date to be advised).

All guests should be seated in the Dunedin Town Hall no later than 3.00pm. Guests are expected to remain for the duration of the Ceremony.

The academic dress worn at Otago Polytechnic was designed in 1994 by third year students of the Otago Polytechnic Diploma in Fashion and Design course. By taking a Scottish style bachelor's gown as inspiration, the designers maintained the traditional Celtic link with Dunedin, while adapting the unique colours and motif from the Otago Polytechnic shield. By combining these two influences, the students established an appropriately traditional but unique and very distinctive look. 

What you need

The Otago Polytechnic Academic Board has approved the following dress code for graduands.  Select the qualification level you are graduating with:

Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate: wear the academic dress of your first degree. This will be a gown, hood and trencher and if it is an Otago Polytechnic degree, a facing as well.

Masters Degree: wear a blue gown, single colour hood and trencher with a gold tassel.

Bachelor Degree with Honours: wear a blue gown, facing, hood edged with dark blue and a trencher.

Bachelor Degree: wear a blue gown, facing, hood and a trencher.

Undergraduate Diploma: wear a blue gown and facing only.

Undergraduate Certificate: wear a blue gown only.

You must attend the ceremony wearing the correct academic dress.

Trenchers 

• Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate graduands wear their trenchers on their heads to receive their certificates.
• Bachelors, Bachelors with Honours and Masters graduands carry their trencher in their left hand.  Once capped by the Chairperson of the Otago Polytechnic Council and having received their award, they then put their trencher on their head and continue walking across the stage.
• Graduands receiving Diplomas and Certificates do not wear trenchers.

Academic dress - special arrangements

Graduating students are entitled to wear the academic dress for the highest award they hold. You cannot wear two different institutions' academic dress together. If you would prefer to wear academic dress from another institution instead of the academic dress for your Otago Polytechnic qualification, we can arrange the hire for you.  You can request alternative academic dress when you register online via the link sent to your email. 

Hiring Academic Dress

Otago Polytechnic operates a hire service for academic dress, the proceeds of which go towards cleaning and maintaining the academic dress stock. Register for graduation online by 20 November 2015 to order your academic dress. If you have not registered by this date you will not be able to hire a gown for the ceremony and will not be able to attend the ceremony.  

Please note:  The Otago Polytechnic Gown Room is not able to take credit card payments.
If you have not registered for graduation in the required timeframe you will not be able to hire a gown or attend the ceremony.

The charges (inclusive of GST) for hiring a set of academic dress are:

To make your academic dress hire payment you can:

1. Visit Otago Polytechnic Customer Services in person
2. Call Customer Services on 0800 762 786 to make a credit card/debit card payment over the phone
3. Pay at the Gown Room when you collect your academic dress

Payment of Academic Dress 

To pay your academic dress hire fee, either ring 0800 762 786 and make a payment over the phone with a credit or debit card, visit Customer Services (Ground floor, F block, Forth Street, Dunedin) or make your payment at the Otago Polytechnic Gown Room when you collect your academic dress and tickets.  Please note:  The Otago Polytechnic Gown Room is not able to take credit card payments.

If you have not registered for graduation in the required timeframe you will not be able to hire a gown or attend the ceremony.

Cancellations should be reported promptly to Otago Polytechnic's Customer Services at last five days prior to graduation. Cancelled orders will be fully refunded by cheque. The processing of refunds takes approximately 14 days.

Note: If you wish to have your photograph taken wearing your academic dress, it is recommended that you make your bookings early and collect your academic dress at the earliest collection time.

Collection of Academic Dress

Academic Dress must be collected from the Gown Room (Forth Street entrance) (see campus map) at times to be advised:

Return of Academic Dress

Academic dress must be returned to the Gown Room (Forth Street entrance) at times to be advised:
For all graduates and staff of Otago Polytechnic

All items of academic dress hired must be returned at one of the above times

Replacement costs will be charged for any lost, damaged or soiled items of academic dress. The replacement value of a full set of Otago Polytechnic academic dress is $1000.00.

Academic dress can be collected and returned on your behalf by friends or family members. However, the responsibility for safe return of academic dress is still yours.

Arrangements have been made with McRobie Studios for an individual photograph to be taken of those who cross the stage at the Graduation Ceremony. Photographs will be taken as degrees are conferred and awards are presented.

These photographs, along with frames and mattes with the Otago Polytechnic logo*, will be available for purchase in the extended foyer of the Glenroy Auditorium directly following the Ceremony.

Photos are $15.00

Framed photos are $65.00*

To assist us on the day in finding the graduate, please have the page number ready in the graduation booklet.

EFTPOS, Visa and MasterCard facilities are available on the day.

Prices are subject to change and price includes GST. A full price list for extra photos, enlargements and frames will be supplied with the original photo.

In addition, there will be degree and diploma/certificate frames available.

Photographs are now available to view and order online within 24 hours of the Graduation Ceremony at McRobies.  

Alternatively, you may write, email or phone McRobie Studios. Please advise the date of the ceremony, the graduate’s name and the page number they are listed on in the Graduation Booklet. It is also advisable to add some extra helpful details such as hair colour and length, any distinctive clothing from the waist up, such as suit or dress colour, tie, jewellery, male/female etc.

Contact details:

McRobie Studios, PO Box 11019,

Musselburgh 9049, DUNEDIN

Phone/fax: 03 477 5801,

email: studio@mcrobie.co.nz

Photographer: Chris Dillon

Website: www.dillon.co.nz

Dillon photography will be photgraphing during the ceremony and, if you wish, will be available to photograph you and/or your family in their on-site studio after the ceremony. Please note: Due to lighting and time restrictions we will not be able to guarantee 'on stage' photos. An on-site studio will be running during the refreshments after the graduation ceremony.

There is no charge for on-site studio photography. Purchase of print or file pricing can be viewed below. You will be able to view and order photos online within seven days of your event.

Viewing/ Purchase Instructions

To order your photos:
1. Visit www.dillon.co.nz
2. Click on Graduation in the navigation menu.
3. Click on 'Graduation Online Store' button.
4. Click on your event.

You will be redirected to our online shop. Here you can choose images, select sizes or packages, calculate shipping costs and purchase. The prints will be shipped to the address you supply.

Pricing (Note sizes are in inches)

6 x 4" print                         $12                  Packages
5 x 7" print                         $20                  10x 6 x 4" prints                      $100   
8 x 12" print                       $45                   1x 8 x 12" & 3x 5 x 7"             $85
12 x 16" print                     $60
High Resolution file            $60

New Zealand is one of 61 countries with a national branch of the Federation of Graduate Women (FGW) affiliated to the International FGW whose headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. All women degree graduates may join the NZFGW.

The aims of the Federation are:

• To promote understanding and cooperation among degree graduate women resident in New Zealand.
• To represent and act for degree graduate women in matters in which they are interested.
• To promote, through affiliation with the IFGW, understanding and friendship among degree graduate women of the world, irrespective of race, religion or political opinion.
• To encourage research work by degree graduate women.
• To encourage the full application of the knowledge and skills of degree graduate women to the problems which arise at all levels of public life, whether regional, national or worldwide, and to encourage their participation in the solving of these problems.

Membership of the IFGW entitles degree graduates to apply for many postgraduate awards.  Members receive regular newsletters, and may obtain letters of introduction to other branches of the IFGW when travelling overseas. Members retain contact with other degree graduate women, and by corporate action contribute to community, educational and controversial issues.  Members of all branches contribute to the preparation of submissions.

Local branch programmes include talks on topical subjects, panel discussions, study groups and social activities.

List of local branch secretaries:

• CANTERBURY - PO Box 3088, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch 8140
• GISBORNE - 51 Island Road, Gisborne 4010
• HAWKES BAY - 4/31 Shakespeare Road, Napier 4110
• MANAWATU - PO Box 1713, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North 4440
• NORTH SHORE - PO Box 33-1050, Takapuna, North Shore City 0740
• OTAGO - PO Box 6334, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9059
• SOUTHLAND - PO Box 98, Invercargill 9840
• WAIKATO - PO Box 7065, Hamilton East, Hamilton 3247
• WELLINGTON - PO Box 2006, Wellington 6140

Students graduating from the Auckland campus will have their ceremony at the Town Hall Concert Chamber. The next graduation ceremony will be on Wednesday, 29 November 2017. 

Whether you're travelling to Graduation to attend the ceremony yourself or visiting to support your loved one, you may need to book accommodation quite early to ensure that you find something. To find accommodation near the Auckland International Campus, visit HotelsCombined

Otago Polytechnic Auckland campus has two graduation ceremonies every year, one in April and one in November. Students eligible to graduate in April are contacted by email in March and students eligible to graduate in November are contacted by email in October each year.

Students must graduate within 18 months of attaining their qualification. If you are eligible to graduate at the next ceremony, you will receive an email approxmately late October - early November inviting you to register your graduation intentions. In this email (sent to both your OP and personal email address), there will be a link to a survey which you must complete by November . It is important that all of your contact information is up-to-date so you do not miss out on this email. If you think that you are eligible to graduate at the above ceremony, but you have not received any information please email studentservices@op.ac.nz.

In the survey, you will be asked the following questions:

• if you will graduate in person, in absentia, or if you would like to defer your graduation to the next ceremony in Auckland or to the next ceremony in Dunedin
• whether you will attend the after-function
• your dress size and head circumference for your academic dress
• the number of guests you will bring (if any) and any special seating requirements

Parade

All graduands who would like to walk in the parade are to meet in Aotea Square under the arch at 11:00am. There will be a photographer there taking photos of all graduands and guests. The parade will depart from Aotea Square at 11:15am and will be led by a piper and drummer. For students walking in the parade, your guests are more than welcome to follow you along the parade and cheer you on!  

Please note, while our campus is growing, our parade is still small. You do not have to walk in the parade if you don’t want to. If this is the case, please ensure you meet at Q Theatre at 12:00pm sharp. There will be student volunteers wearing OP branded t-shirts waiting outside, who will show you where to go.

Assembly

Graduating students do not need tickets for themselves. Each student will be allocated one ticket for their friends and family. Applications for additional tickets can be made by emailing studentservices@op.ac.nz. You may collect your tickets along with your academic dress from the Auckland International Campus. The exaxt date and time will be confirmed closer to the date. Please go to Student Success in Room 101 on Level 1 for ticket collectio

*No tickets or gowns to be collected on the day of graduation. If you have any issues around this please email studentservices@op.ac.nz.

All graduating students must wear appropriate academic dress. Otago Polytechnic operates a hire service for academic dress, the proceeds of which go toward cleaning and maintaining the academic dress stock. You must register for graduation before Monday, 10^th April 2017. Otherwise, you risk your academic dress not being sent up in time and as a result you may not be able to attend your graduation ceremony.  

The charges (inclusive of GST) for hiring a set of academic dress are: 

Payment of Academic Dress

Via bank deposit: Account Name: Otago Polytechnic
Bank Name: Westpac Banking Corporation
Account No: 03-0883-0134810-00
Reference: Your Student ID No and “Graduation” E.g. Reference: 1000012345 Graduation

Via credit card:
Call us on: 09 309 0301 ext. 811 or 304 to make a credit card/ debit card payment over the phone

In person, when you collect your academic dress:
Otago Polytechnic
7/350 Queen Street
Auckland 1010

Collection and Return of Academic Dress

You may collect your tickets along with your academic dress from the Auckland International Campus.  Please go to Student Success in Room 101 on Level 1 for gown and ticket collection:

Note: No tickets or gowns to be collected on the day of graduation. If you have any issues around this please email studentservices@op.ac.nz

New Zealand is one of 61 countries with a national branch of the Federation of Graduate Women (FGW) affiliated to the International FGW whose headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. All women degree graduates may join the NZFGW.

The aims of the Federation are:

• To promote understanding and cooperation among degree graduate women resident in New Zealand.
• To represent and act for degree graduate women in matters in which they are interested.
• To promote, through affiliation with the IFGW, understanding and friendship among degree graduate women of the world, irrespective of race, religion or political opinion.
• To encourage research work by degree graduate women.
• To encourage the full application of the knowledge and skills of degree graduate women to the problems which arise at all levels of public life, whether regional, national or worldwide, and to encourage their participation in the solving of these problems.

Membership of the IFGW entitles degree graduates to apply for many postgraduate awards.  Members receive regular newsletters, and may obtain letters of introduction to other branches of the IFGW when travelling overseas. Members retain contact with other degree graduate women, and by corporate action contribute to community, educational and controversial issues.  Members of all branches contribute to the preparation of submissions.

Local branch programmes include talks on topical subjects, panel discussions, study groups and social activities.

List of local branch secretaries:

• CANTERBURY - PO Box 3088, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch 8140
• GISBORNE - 51 Island Road, Gisborne 4010
• HAWKES BAY - 4/31 Shakespeare Road, Napier 4110
• MANAWATU - PO Box 1713, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North 4440
• NORTH SHORE - PO Box 33-1050, Takapuna, North Shore City 0740
• OTAGO - PO Box 6334, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9059
• SOUTHLAND - PO Box 98, Invercargill 9840
• WAIKATO - PO Box 7065, Hamilton East, Hamilton 3247
• WELLINGTON - PO Box 2006, Wellington 6140

New Zealand is one of 61 countries with a national branch of the Federation of Graduate Women (FGW) affiliated to the International FGW whose headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland. All women degree graduates may join the NZFGW.

The aims of the Federation are:

• To promote understanding and cooperation among degree graduate women resident in New Zealand.
• To represent and act for degree graduate women in matters in which they are interested.
• To promote, through affiliation with the IFGW, understanding and friendship among degree graduate women of the world, irrespective of race, religion or political opinion.
• To encourage research work by degree graduate women.
• To encourage the full application of the knowledge and skills of degree graduate women to the problems which arise at all levels of public life, whether regional, national or worldwide, and to encourage their participation in the solving of these problems.

Membership of the IFGW entitles degree graduates to apply for many postgraduate awards.  Members receive regular newsletters, and may obtain letters of introduction to other branches of the IFGW when travelling overseas. Members retain contact with other degree graduate women, and by corporate action contribute to community, educational and controversial issues.  Members of all branches contribute to the preparation of submissions.

Local branch programmes include talks on topical subjects, panel discussions, study groups and social activities.

List of local branch secretaries:

• CANTERBURY - PO Box 3088, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch 8140
• GISBORNE - 51 Island Road, Gisborne 4010
• HAWKES BAY - 4/31 Shakespeare Road, Napier 4110
• MANAWATU - PO Box 1713, Palmerston North Central, Palmerston North 4440
• NORTH SHORE - PO Box 33-1050, Takapuna, North Shore City 0740
• OTAGO - PO Box 6334, Dunedin North, Dunedin 9059
• SOUTHLAND - PO Box 98, Invercargill 9840
• WAIKATO - PO Box 7065, Hamilton East, Hamilton 3247
• WELLINGTON - PO Box 2006, Wellington 6140