Te Heika Pounamu | Māori pre-graduation ceremonies
There is nothing like the pride whānau feel when their tamariki make it through their years of study and achieve their degrees, and we make sure this milestone is celebrated.
The Māori Centre co-ordinates the Māori pre-graduation ceremony before the formal events at the Town Hall. All whānau are invited, and there is time for kōrero, waiata, photographs and plenty of laughter (and a few tears!).
At all Māori pre-graduation ceremonies, graduands and their whānau are given the opportunity to honour those who have provided support, reassurance and belief throughout their academic journey. The event is a highlight on our calendar and is remembered by many tauira as one of the best days of their lives.
![Māori pre-grad event 2022 940w Attendees seated at a Māori Pre-Graduation event](https://www.otago.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0016/601513/2022-05-06-Maori-Pre-Grad-Event.jpg)
Māori Pre-Graduation Event
Mana Pounamu Young Achiever Awards
The annual Mana Pounamu Young Achievers' celebrating the vast and varied achievements of rakatahi Māori (Māori youth) in secondary schools across Otago.
Each October, Mana Pounamu acknowledges the many wonderful accomplishments of rakatahi Māori, and aims to inspire them to consider tertiary education as a natural progression. The Awards provide an opportunity to showcase our future leaders, providing inspirational role models to other Māori youth across the province.
Mana Pounamu is a Kāi Tahu initiative supported by Kā Papatipu Rūnaka ki Arāiteuru, Otago Polytechnic, the University of Otago, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, the Ministry of Education and the Otago Daily Times.
For more information on this event visit the Mana Pounamu Young Achiever Awards website
![man-pounamu-young-achievers-awards-2022-at-auditorium-image-0236311.jpg Mana Pounamu Young Achievers Awards 2022 at auditorium](https://www.otago.ac.nz/__data/assets/image/0026/323909/man-pounamu-young-achievers-awards-2022-at-auditorium-image-0236311.jpg)
Students and whānua attending the Mana Pounamu Young Achiever Awards