Tairāwhiti Graduation Ceremony – Friday 20 March 2026
War Memorial Theatre, Gisborne

• 12pm Heipipi Park
• Ceremony, 1 pm

If you wish to attend graduation, you must register online and make payment before 31 January 2026.

Graduation Regalia Cost and Payment

• This payment covers attending the ceremony and regalia
• All payments MUST be made before 31 January 2026. 

Degree/Graduate/Postgraduate/Masters $105
Undergraduate Diploma $85

Payment can be made by 

• Internet banking Eastern Institute of Technology – 03 0631 0007233 00 use reference number 805-0825, and include your name
• Over the counter at EIT Tairāwhiti reception

If you have further questions please email graduationtc@eit.ac.nz.

Hawke’s Bay Graduation Ceremonies – Wednesday 22^nd April 2026

Ceremony One, 10.30 am

Parade, 1 pm

Ceremony Two, 2.30 pm
If you wish to attend graduation, you must register online and make payment before 31 January 2026.

Graduation Regalia Cost and Payment

• This payment covers attending the ceremony and regalia
• All payments MUST be made before 31 January 2026. 

Degree/Graduate/Postgraduate/Masters $105
Undergraduate Diploma $85

Payment can be made by 

• Internet banking Eastern Institute of Technology – 03 0631 0007233 00 use reference number 805-0825, and include your name
• Over the counter at EIT Hawke’s Bay reception

If you have further questions please email graduationhb@eit.ac.nz.

We would like to update you on some important procedures and timelines so that you can fully enjoy this special day with your friends and whānau.

Schedule of Events

Regalia Pick-Up

Monday 20th April 2026, 8.00am to 6.00pm, room I130B.
All students need to collect their graduation regalia from the EIT Campus in Taradale.

If you cannot pick up your regalia you MUST arrange for someone else to collect it for you.

Morning Ceremony – Wednesday 22nd April 2026
Centre of Veterinary Nursing, Schools of Education and Social Sciences, Primary Industries, Tourism and Hospitality, Trades and Technology, Viticulture and Wine Science, Te Ūranga Waka, School of Business and Computing, 

Group photos will commence at 8 am. There will be more information when you pick up your regalia with exact time of each programme photo.  Please assemble in the carpark (seaside) at the Theatre for group photos.

10.05 am Please assemble in the carpark (seaside) at the Theatre (ready for lining up to enter the theatre).

·         10.30 am Graduation Ceremony begins.
·         12.45 pm Assemble outside the Theatre.
·         1.00 pm Parade commences. 

Afternoon Ceremony – Wednesday 22nd April 2026
School of Nursing, School of Health and Sports Science, IDEAschool, 

·         12.45 pm Assemble outside the front of the Theatre.
·         1.00 pm Parade commences.
·         Group photos will commence at 1.40 pm. There will be more information when you pick up your regalia with exact time of each programme photo.  Please assemble in the carpark (seaside) Theatre for photos.
·         2.05 pm Please assemble in the carpark (seaside) of the Theatre (ready for lining up to enter the theatre).
·         2.30 pm Graduation Ceremony begins.

Graduation Parade

Wednesday 22nd April 2026 – 1.00 pm

Graduands will gather in full academic regalia outside the Napier Municipal Theatre for the start of the parade. At 1.00 pm a procession led by local authority leaders and the Pipe Band will parade up Emerson Street, returning to the Napier Municipal Theatre.  

The show must go on, despite rain. However, if there is torrential rain, the parade will be cancelled.

Ceremony One
Tuesday, 19 May 2026, 10.30am, Aotea Centre, 50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland
The ceremony will include students from areas of study as follows:
School of Computing and School Health and Sport Science

Ceremony Two
Tuesday, 19 May 2026, 2.00pm, Aotea Centre, 50 Mayoral Drive, Auckland
The ceremony will include students from School of Business

Graduation Regalia Cost and Payment

• This payment covers attending the ceremony and regalia
• All payments MUST be made before 28th February 2026.

Degree/Graduate/Postgraduate/Masters $105

Payment can be made by internet banking Eastern Institute of Technology – 03 0631 0007233 00 use reference number 805-0825, and include your name.

Gowns are collected prior to graduation (date to be confirmed) from the campus and returned to the campus on the same day.

Failure to return your regalia on time will result in an invoice for the full replacement cost (approx $400).

If you have further questions please email graduationak@eit.ac.nz.

You may be required (Hawke’s Bay only) before your ceremony to assemble for a class photo. The exact time will be available when you collect your academic regalia.    

Please note: if you do not turn up at the allocated time you will not be in your class photo.

Professional photographers will be available on the day to take your individual and family photos after your ceremony.  These can be purchased online.

Graduate like a boss, looking and feeling great.

This short video will help you get your regalia sorted on your graduation day. 

You should wear the graduation regalia of your highest qualification ie. If you are being awarded a Postgraduate or Masters you should wear the regalia for that qualification.

If you have an existing degree and have completed a Postgraduate Certificate or Diploma you should wear the appropriate sash and a trencher.

Theatre staff will be available to assist your guests if they have mobility issues. 

Yes you can.  If the child is to sit on a knee of a guest you will not need a ticket for them.  If a child or baby gets upset please respect those attending the ceremony and feel free to pop out into the foyer where you can continue to watch the ceremony on the livestream.

Each year EIT live streams their major graduation ceremonies so that your friends and family from out of town can watch you cross the stage.

Simply like and follow our Facebook pages and you will receive a notification whenever we livestream an event. There is a page for each campus, Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti and Auckland.

Please ensure that you park in public parking areas and pay for parking, if its required. Please allow yourself plenty of time to get a park and to get to the theatre in time for proceedings.

Formal attire is appropriate to wear under your gown.  You may like to consider sensible shoes for walking across the stage and if you are in Hawke’s Bay or Tairāwhiti for walking in the parade.

Traditional head dress or cloak are welcome.

Each graduation ceremony is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours long.

Degrees

When your name is called, walk to the centre, holding your trencher in your left hand. In conferring the degree, the capping trencher will be momentarily held over your head and you will then be congratulated with a hand shake.  Now as a graduate, you will put on your trencher and continue across the stage and descend side steps and return to your seat.

Diplomas
If you are receiving a diploma you will walk across the stage to receive your handshake .   

Please be respectful of others when it is their moment.

You will have received your certificate in the mail. If you have not received your certificate please contact your programme administrator.

Each graduand in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti will receive a maximum of four tickets which will be in the bag with your regalia.

Auckland graduands will receive two guest tickets. 

These tickets are for your guests and are free, graduands do not need a ticket to attend.

Guests will not be admitted to the theatre unless they present a ticket. 

After registration has closed any additional tickets will be available when you collect your academic regalia. 

After registration has closed any additional tickets will be available when you collect your academic regalia. 

You may also like to chat with your class members as not all Graduands will need all four guest tickets.

Do not take your regalia bag and/or handbags to the ceremony.

Leave these with family members as you may not be seated in your original seat after you have crossed the stage.

Professional photos are taken during all our graduation ceremonies and the parade

Keep an eye on our Facebook page leading up to graduation for more details about when and where to collect your regalia.  Traditionally in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regalia is collected in a room on campus a few days before graduation.

Auckland graduands can collect their regalia prior to graduation (date to be confirmed) from the campus and returned to the campus on the same day.

Yes you can however please be respectful of other graduands and their guests.

No you do not.

Your academic regalia needs to be returned after your ceremony at the following venues:

Hawke’s Bay

• At the theatre directly after your ceremony.

Auckland

• At the EIT Auckland Campus following your ceremony.

Tairāwhiti

• At the theatre directly after your ceremony.