Welcome to our new international students!

On Friday 2 September, the University of Auckland hosted 71 international students from across the sector at a welcome event held in the Unleash Space.

Recently arrived international students from institutions across Auckland mingled with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Education Minister Chris Hipkins, following a welcome ceremony hosted at the University of Auckland on 2 September. Michael Steedman, Kaiarataki at the University, opened this event and demonstrated his 3D-printed conch shell. The ceremony included students receiving a Tū Ngātahi pin (Tū Ngātahi is a te Reo Māori phrase calling us to ‘stand together’).

One of many welcome events around the country since New Zealand’s borders reopened at the end of July, the ceremony was attended by more than 70 students, as well as representatives of UoA and Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ). It was an emotional moment for some of the students, who had been waiting a long time for the opportunity to study here.  

Featuring in ENZ’s current brand campaign (I AM NEW) is University of Auckland international student, Malina Grube, who presented at this event with her bespoke graduation garb from the campaign on display. She spoke about her own experiences as an international student and the thinking behind her graduation garb design.

It was wonderful event to celebrate the borders reopening and being able to welcome international students back to New Zealand and on our Auckland campus. You could feel the manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, so much so that upon the official part of the event concluding, students lined up to speak and have selfies with the Prime Minster, who graciously spoke with everyone. This welcome event was followed by a morning tea and media briefing with the Prime Minister and Minister Hipkins.