Media release
The University of Auckland
3 May 2013
6461 Graduating Next Week
The youngest graduands to step on stage at The University of Auckland’s Autumn Graduation this year are seven who
completed their degrees at just 19 years of age.
They will join thousands of graduands and their families in central Auckland next week, celebrating success.
Some 6461 graduands will receive a total of 7072 qualifications at ten ceremonies spread over three days (6, 8, 10 May).
These include 128 doctorates.
Arts is the faculty awarding the most qualifications with 1,363 followed by Science (1,326), Business & Economics (1284), Education (1,045) and Medical and Health Sciences (738)
There are 602 in Engineering, 499 in Creative Arts and Industries, and 215 in Law.
Around 17,000 guests have tickets for the ceremonies at the Aotea Centre. Each ceremony is being webcast live, enabling
relatives and friends to watch proceedings from anywhere in the world.
Leaving Princes Street 9.30am on each day graduands, staff and Council members will process through the city down Bowen
Avenue and Victoria Street East, and up Queen Street.
The University’s Chancellor Dr Ian Parton, and Pro Vice-Chancellor Peter Kiely, will both personally confer (5121)
degrees and diplomas, bestowing the rest (1896) “in absentia” on those not attending.
Speakers at the ceremonies include University of Auckland alumni;
Andrew Patterson, one of New Zealand’s most recognised architects and founding director of renowned architectural firm
Patterson Associates Ltd, Mr Bruce Hassall, CEO PricewaterhouseCoopers, Maori Television’s General Manager of
Production, Carol Hirschfeld, General Manager Altitude Aerospace Interiors, Michael Pervan, Patrick Snedden, Business
Adviser, Snedden Publishing & Management Consultants Ltd, and Fady Mishriki, Co-founder and CEO PowerbyProxi.
The free Graduation Gala Concerto Competition on Thursday 9 May (7.30pm) is expected to pack out the Auckland Town Hall.
Three School of Music student soloists, accompanied by the University’s Symphony Orchestra conducted by Uwe Grodd, will
be competing for a grand prize of $5000. A special feature of this year’s concert is a performance by The Auckland
Chamber Choir conducted by Karen Grylis.
Graduation services will be held at the Maclaurin Chapel on each graduation morning. There will be separate celebrations
for Māori and Pacific graduates and their families while faculties will hold special functions for their graduates.
ENDS