Orientation

Registration and Pōwhiri

You will start your day with registration, which involves signing in at an Orientation registration point, using the QR scanner in the AUT App. Our student ambassador team will be on hand to show you the ropes or help you out if you need it.

The Orientation day programme will then begin with a Pōwhiri, which is a personal welcome from existing AUT staff and students to manuhiri (visitors). This ceremony is our chance to welcome you and celebrate your place as one of the AUT community.

Our Student Ambassadors, in their bright blue t-shirts, will be on hand to guide you through the pōwhiri process.

Meeting faculty and your fellow classmates

Following the pōwhiri, you will make your way to your pre-booked faculty session. This should already show up in your Orientation schedule in the AUT App, along with the location of your session. If this is not the case, then let one of our Student Ambassadors know and they will give you directions on where to go.

Your session will begin with an interactive introduction to student life, facilitated by AUT Student Ambassadors. These ambassadors will be from your faculty, and provide insight and tips on  how to best prepare for the start of uni. They will also introduce you to a range of student services, so that you can identify any specialised support that you might need, before the start of classes in week one. This session is a great way to start meeting some of your fellow students from your programme and faculty, so be ready for some fun icebreakers and the chance to make some new friends.

The second half of the session is your chance to meet with your teaching staff. These are just some of the lecturers that will deliver your learning throughout your first year and they are on hand to outline everything you need to know to be ready for the first week of classes. This is a great opportunity to get to know more about your course, as well as what else your faculty provides to support you in your learning. So, don’t be shy to ask questions, because there is no such thing as a silly question.

Lunch and Student Life Zones

Throughout the lunch break you will be provided food, as well as a chance to engage with our Student Life zones. These zones will include games and activities to enjoy a break and interact with fellow students. The zones will also have a range of support services and student clubs on hand, so that you can learn a bit more about life as an AUT student and meet some of the amazing people in your community.

Student support sessions

Throughout the day, you will have the opportunity to attend a range of support sessions. The majority of these sessions take place after lunch. Many of you will already have added sessions to your schedule on the AUT App. If you are unsure how, use the video above to learn how or ask a student ambassador, on the day.

Sessions range from campus tours, IT Sorted, academic support offerings, or drop-ins to the Student Hub or our Faculty Admin zone, to sort out your enrolments. You will find brief descriptions of the sessions on the AUT App, your Orientation programme or ask for more info from one of our student ambassadors.

On our Online Orientation Information page, we provide a broad range of information and resources to help you start your university journey. This is a useful page to get familiar with, especially if you are unable to make it on to campus during Orientation Week. Get a headstart on your Orientation journey by checking out the information and links on this page and learn how AUT will support you as you start your 2023 student journey.

Online Orientation information and resources

Use this checklist to make sure that you have everything ready for Orientation week:

• I have uploaded an ID photo in Arion
• My contact details are correct
• I have built my Orientation Schedule in the AUT App
• I have applied for my AT Hop concession
• I have planned my transport for Orientation Week
• I have enrolled in papers

You will also find a copy of this checklist in your Orientation menu, in the AUT App.

Our International Students Day on Friday 24 February offers additional sessions to support our international students in their transition to study in New Zealand. This is an extra day in the Orientation week programme and is not meant to replace your pre-booked Orientation day. For international undergraduate students, this means you will be pre-booked into two days of Orientation. For postgraduates, you will be able to attend sessions for both events on Friday.

On Canvas, AUT’s Online Learning platform, all AUT students have access to faculty homepages, which offer a range of information and resources to support your learning. Once you've been enrolled by your faculty, you'll be able to check out the links below to learn more about them, meet some of the team and see the support they provide. If you can’t view these pages yet, don’t worry. You'll have access in the lead-up to the start of semester.

• Business, Economics and Law
• Culture and Society
• Te Ara Poutama
• Design and Creative Technologies
• Health and Environmental Sciences