Hamilton Academic Orientation

What a fantastic welcome! Thanks for being part of a great start.

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Academic Orientation will run over the first week of the Orientation experience and is specifically designed for new students to help you settle into University study. Essential presentations will be hosted on campus so that you get all the information and support you need for your first year of study, as well as plenty of fun activities throughout the week.

Wednesday, 2 July

Time Location Session Description
9am Ko Te Tangata, The Pā Pōwhiri A pōwhiri is a welcome ceremony conducted in accordance with tikanga Māori (Māori protocols and customs). The pōwhiri contains multiple interlocking riturals for both men and women. The following link provides a good guide of what you will see and experience as part of the ceremony. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHq0-Tt0-kk&t=80s
10am Outside The Pā Campus Tours Join our Student Ambassadors on a tour around our beautiful Hamilton campus. Tours depart from outside the Pā, opposite the Student Centre.
11am Ko Te Tangata, The Pā Māori ki Waikato Nau mai, haere mai, whakatau mai ki te Whare Wānanga o Waikato!Kickstart your akoranga, your studies, by connecting with whānau that will enhance your student experience. Being part of the Māori community on campus is about making epic memories, lifelong friendships, developing yourself personally and professionally, and learning sets of skills that will equip you for your studies and beyond. Wepua e hoa mā! 2025 - we got this!
11am Te Manawa - Student Centre Library Tours Te Iho o Te Manawataki - Library welcome you to tour our building and learn about what we offer while you study at the University. These tours are run at multiple times from 11am-12pm and cover our collecions, services and spaces. Head on in, we can't wait to meet you.
12pm Outside The Pā WSU Lunch Head to The Pā for some free food thanks to Waikato Students' Union (WSU).
1pm Te Āhurutanga, The Pā International Orientation International Student Orientation is a welcoming session designed to help new international students transition smoothly into their academic and social life. It provides essential information about campus resources, cultural adjustment, academic expectations and immigration requirements. Discover all the amazing support services available to you and get a chance to win exciting spot prizes along the way!
2pm Te Manawa - Student Centre Library Tours Te Iho o Te Manawataki - Library welcome you to tour our building and learn about what we offer while you study at the University. These tours are run at multiple times during this period and cover our collecions, services and spaces. Head on in, we can't wait to meet you.

Thursday, 3 July

Time Location Session Description
9am L.G.01 Moodle and More Learn how to get started and get the most out of the key learning technologies you'll use in your studies at Waikato including Moodle, Panopto and Turnitin. We recommend you bring a laptop or other device. Join us in person or online. https://waikato.au.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=d858178d-3e4e-471b-ba1a-b2f7017f5768
10am Outside The Pā Campus Tours Join our Student Ambassadors on a tour around our beautiful Hamilton campus. Tours depart from outside The Pā, opposite the Student Centre.
11am Te Manawa - Student Centre Library Tours Te Iho o Te Manawataki - Library welcome you to tour our building and learn about what we offer while you study at the University. These tours are run at multiple times from 11am-12pm and cover our collecions, services and spaces. Head on in, we can't wait to meet you.
12pm Outside The Pā WSU Lunch Head to The Pā for some free food thanks to Waikato Students' Union (WSU).
12-6pm UniRec UniRec Open Day All UniRec facilities and services including the sports hall, cardio and weights areas and group classes will be available to students, whether they are a UniRec member or not.
1pm PWC, Lecture Theate Waikato Management School - Postgraduate Session Kickstart your 2025 postgraduate studies at the Waikato Management School! Join us for a warm welcome, where you'll meet key staff, get essential tips, and discover how to navigate MyWaikato and Moodle—your go-to tools for accessing course materials, resources, and managing your enrolment. We’ll also introduce you to some of the fantastic student clubs available through WMS. Plus, after the session, you can take a tour of the Management School. 
1pm L.G.01 Division of STEM Session Get a head start on your studies with the Division of STEM (School of Science, School of Engineering, School of Computing & Mathematical Sciences). Learn how to navigate MyWaikato and Moodle, your essential tools for accessing course materials, resources and managing your enrolment, and how your Study Advisors can support you throughout your first year. 
1pm TT.1.11 Division of Health Session Your health journey at Waikato is about to begin! Come and meet your classmates, get a head start on navigating university systems and classes, and grab a free t-shirt while you’re at it. Looking forward to meeting you there!
1pm   Division of Education Session  
1pm Ko Te Tangata, The Pā Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies Session Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Pua Wānanga ki te Ao! The Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies invites you to a drop-in support session. This is your chance to confirm your courses and subjects, check your papers, and get some answers to your questions. Whether you’re passionate about te reo Māori, indigenous knowledge, just starting your University journey or returning to study, we’re here to support your journey. Nau mai, haere mai!
2pm Te Manawa - Student Centre Library Tours Te Iho o Te Manawataki - Library welcome you to tour our building and learn about what we offer while you study at the University. These tours are run at multiple times from 2-3pm and cover our collecions, services and spaces. Head on in, we can't wait to meet you.
2pm PWC Waikato Management School - Undergraduate Session Join us for a warm welcome where you'll meet key staff, get essential tips, and discover how to navigate MyWaikato and Moodle—your go-to tools for accessing course materials, resources, and managing your enrolment. We’ll also introduce you to some of the fantastic student clubs available through WMS. Plus, after the session, you can take a tour of the Management School. 
3pm Te Kōpūroa, The Pā Pacific Orientation Talofa lava! Malo e lelei! Bula vinaka! Fakaalofa lahi atu! Kia orana! Fakatalofa atu! Malo ni! Mauri! Join us for the Pacific Orientation, where you'll get all the essential info to start your journey at Waikato on the right foot. The dedicated Pacific at Waikato staff are here to support you, ensuring you feel connected and confident in your studies.Need study advice? The Palu Navigators are your go-to mentors, offering guidance and encouragement every step of the way. They hold drop-in sessions in Te Iho o Te Manawataki - Library’s Blue Room and within their designated divisions, making it easy for you to access academic support when you need it. Whether you're looking for learning strategies, academic resources, or just a friendly face, we’re here to help. Come along, meet your Pacific community, and set yourself up for success!

Friday, 4 July

Time Location Session Description
10am L.G.01 Science and Engineering Laboratory Health and Safety Science and Engineering are practical, hands-on subjects where you will be learning by doing. Labs and field trips are important parts of your degree, and in most cases are compulsory. Come along to this information session to find out what you need for your first lab, and health and safety precautions in laboratories and on field trips. 
10am Outside The Pā Campus Tours Join our Student Ambassadors on a tour around our beautiful Hamilton campus. Tours depart from outside the Pā, opposite the Student Centre.
11am L.G.01 Division of Arts, Law, Psychology and Social Sciences Session Welcome! We're here to help you understand what to expect as an ALPSS student. We'll guide you through planning your timetable and show you how to balance your studies, work commitments, and social life within a busy schedule. You'll also be introduced to key people in ALPSS, and then we'll take you over to J Block to meet with an advisor for a friendly chat. 
12pm Outside The Pā WSU Lunch Head to The Pā for some free food thanks to Waikato Students' Union (WSU).