A warm welcome for AUT’s newest students
At AUT, Orientation is an important milestone that signifies the beginning of a student's journey.
Orientation offers a wide range of activities to jumpstart our newest students’ life on campus and provide them with everything they need to be successful in their studies and get the most out of their time at AUT. There are timetabled sessions for each programme, as well as ICT drop-in sessions, events, campus tours and free kai.
Pōwhiri
To symbolise the start of the relationship between students and AUT, the University holds a pōwhiri on each day in the week of Orientation.
AUT staff from across the University will attend as the hau kāinga (hosts) in support of welcoming our new ākonga (students).
Student Transition Manager, Hans Tommy, says “the pōwhiri is important as it shows our new students that they are now a part of our whānau from day one.
“It’s also a great reminder of our responsibility and commitment as staff to that relationship. It brings us together as a community to establish the connection kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face).”
AUT’s Māori Students’ Association, Titahi ki Tua, will be supporting the pōwhiri across the entire week, including providing korero on behalf of manuhiri, waiata, haka pōwhiri and karanga.
Student events - highlights
AUTaia
Our new tauira will have their own opportunity to meet with their whānau as our Pou Māori and Office of Māori Advancement will be facilitating AUTaia, our Māori students and whānau welcome day. This will take place on Saturday 17 February on City Campus, starting with a pōwhiri welcoming our guests to Ngā Wai o Horotiu Marae.
Pacific Fanau Day
For the first time, South Campus will be hosting a Pacific Fanau Day. This event will be on Saturday 24 February, after our UniPrep programme has wrapped up, and is overseen by our Office of Pacific Advancement.
Following the welcome to the fanau day, the team will host a talanoa about what students can expect from AUT, study options, career ideas and how their families can best support them on their university journey. Students will also have the opportunity to meet AUT's Pacific support team and fellow students over some kai and games.
International Students’ Day – Monday 19 February
International Students’ Day celebrates AUT's rich and diverse international community. As well as tailored sessions to support our new international students to settle into university life in Aotearoa, we offer cultural performances, Marae experiences and food stalls to showcase how we celebrate culture at AUT.
AUT App
The AUT app has a tailored Orientation menu, which will guide students through the lead up to the event. The app allows students to build their own schedule for Orientation, access digital vouchers and more.
O-Week
Following Orientation, during the first week of semester, AUT will be holding O-Week. O-Week is all about life on campus, clubs and support groups and facilitated by AUT’s Student Association, AUTSA. The events during the first few weeks of semester work together to help the newcomers settle into life as an AUT student.