EIT Tairawhiti celebrates a number of graduation milestones on Friday (May 2) with 87 of 250 graduands to cross the stage to receive their diplomas, postgraduate diplomas and bachelor, honours and master degrees.

EIT’s wide range of applied degree programmes continues to boost enrolments in higher-level programmes. This year, a total of 19 graduands will receive their Bachelor of Maori Visual Arts degree – the most ever for Toihoukura.

Te Whatukura also celebrates a successful year with its first intake of five students for the Bachelor of Arts Honours (Maori) programme.  Among them will be EIT senior lecturers Maria Wynyard and Marei Norris who will graduate with first class honours.

Another first will be the inaugural Tuakiri Medal of Distinction Award which will be awarded to Rawinia Te Kani for her outstanding commitment and dedication to the community.

Other highlights include a graduation address by local businessman, Murray Ferris, and a special valedictory address by Applied Social Science graduand Sharai Takao.

EIT’s graduation parade sets off from Heipipi park at 12pm, with graduands and staff wearing the time-honoured regalia of academic gowns, colourfully lined hoods, sashes and black flat-topped trenchers, making their way down Gladstone Road to EIT’s main campus.

The official graduation ceremony commences at 2pm at the Farmers Air Showgrounds Event Centre and organisers anticipate an incredible atmosphere as enthusiastic whanau and friends support their loved ones with waiata, haka and the gifting of leis.

The ceremony will be streamed live online from 2pm – 4pm on EIT’s website https://www.eit.ac.nz.