Toi Ohomai graduates paraded through the streets to celebrate their achievements. Photo / Stephen Parker
Toi Ohomai graduates paraded through the streets to celebrate their achievements. Photo / Stephen Parker
Hundreds of students from Toi Ohomai's Rotorua campus have graduated from study today. The students were celebrated in three ceremonies throughout the day and paraded through the city streets.
About 500 students, including 167 postgraduate students, graduated from the Mokoia campus with ceremonies at the Energy Events Centre.
Bachelor of Nursing graduate Adriana Palmer said the parade was a "beautiful moment".
Saketh Shetty is an international student who graduated with a postgraduate diploma in health.
#WATCH: Hundreds of Toi Ohomai graduates parade through the city from the village green to Government Gardens.
He said it was significant leaving his home country to study in New Zealand.
"It's a proud moment for my family as well, coming here, being able to show that I'm capable of receiving this degree. It's a big deal."
The executive dean of teaching learning and research, Dr Amanda Torr, said the day was a celebration.
"Completing any course of tertiary study is definitely something to celebrate regardless of where students are on their study pathway. We are so proud of all our students and it's wonderful to see them being honoured for their fantastic achievements."
More than 500 students graduated over three ceremonies. Photo / Stephen Parker
John Stenning graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Technology and said his study aligned with his current employment and allowed him to do more at work.
The Mokoia campus graduation ceremonies also saw students graduating from new courses including the Graduate Diploma in Creative Entrepreneurship and new IT Diploma courses.
The day began with a pohiri and poroporoaki (farewell) at the Tangatarua Marae at Mokoia Campus.
The number of mature students (over 40) has risen on previous years with 162 mature students completing the NZ Certificate in Computing (User Fundamentals) last year, up from 38 the previous year.
Mokoia graduates walk through Rotorua. Photo / Stephen Parker
Not all graduating students attended the ceremonies.
Graduates - Faculty of Education / Health / Nursing Social Services (same faculty) 225 - Faculty of Community Wellbeing and Development: 4 - Faculty of Business Management and Legal Studies: 180 - Faculty of Tourism, Hospitality and Service Industries: 50 - Faculty of Engineering Creative, Technology and Infrastructure: 30 - Faculty of Trades and Logistics: 7 These Toi Ohomai figures show those who attended the graduation ceremony, not everyone who was graduating.
