Victoria University of Wellington(1)
Degree colours are derived from the departmental colours.(2) There was formerly no costume prescribed for officers.(3) Official dress of a traditional form was however later introduced, apparently for the 1999 centennial celebrations.
Graduates shall appear at all public ceremonies of the University in the academic dress proper to their degree, but doctors may on special occasions wear a scarlet gown. Graduates admitted ad eundem statum may wear the academic dress of their own university.(4)
A stole has been introduced. This is of the colour of the subject, with a stripe on the lining. It is similar to a scarf reaching to the hem of the gown with an extended yoke at the back. The Victoria University of Wellington stole is of tartan green (BCC 26) fabric, with an inside stripe of the same colour, and an Indian yellow (BCC 6) stripe.
Members of the teaching and administrative staff who are not graduates of the university may wear the academic dress of this university appropriate to their degree. Staff members are encouraged to wear full academic dress.
A Maori ceremony was introduced into the graduation in 1987, and an additional Maori graduation ceremony at Te Herenga Waka marae was introduced in 1992.(5) In the latter year a formal academic procession was inaugurated, the first since a jubilee procession in 1949.(6) Graduates may wear a Kahu Maori (a Maori cloak) over their gown, and under the hood.
Chancellor
Robe: of black damask, with gold oak leaf lace on outer edges of facings. Gold ornaments to sleeves and sleeve cuffs edged with gold plate lace, and facings trimmed with scarlet taffeta.
Cap: rich all silk black damask trencher, lightly decorated with gold lace, and with gold tassel.
Doctors
Other than of Philosophy
Gown: as for the Cambridge Master of Arts, but is made of black silk or of scarlet silk or cloth.(7) Doctors may on special occasions wear a scarlet robe.(8)
Hood: same size and shape as the Cambridge Master of Arts, but is made wholly of silk and is of the colour of the appropriate faculty.
Cap: black cloth trencher with black tassel.
Doctors
of Philosophy
Gown: as for the Cambridge Master of Arts. Until the introduction of the stole this was of black silk with detachable 100mm facings of post office red (BCC 209). Doctors may on special occasions wear a scarlet robe.(9)
Cap: John Knox cap (formerly a black cloth trencher with black tassel).
Stole: faced with Post Office red silk (BCC 209). This replaces the usual hood of post office red (BCC 209).
Masters
Gown: as for the Cambridge Master of Arts.
Hood: same size and shape as the Cambridge Master of Arts, lined with coloured silk. Not for those with stoles.
Cap: black cloth trencher with black tassel.
Stole: lined with coloured silk and with a 20 mm stripe in another colour at a distance of 20 mm from border. For the MMS(Tech) the stripe and spacing is 50 mm. Used by MAF, MAPA, MComms, MCompSc, MConSc, MDevStud, MEnvStud, MIM, MNZS, MTA, MFinMath, MIR, MLIS, MMgt, MMS, MPHist, MPM.
Bachelors
with Honours
Gown: as for the Cambridge Bachelor of Arts.
Hood: same size and shape as the Cambridge Master of Arts, lined with coloured silk and edged with white silk 3" (75 mm) wide, 2½" (15 mm) being on the coloured silk lining as a border and the remaining ½" (10 mm) being on the outside of the hood as an edging. However, the hood for the Degree of Bachelor of Building Science with Honours (BBSc(Hons)) is lined with nasturtium-coloured silk and edged with white silk 75 mm wide, 15 mm being on the coloured silk lining as a border and the remainder on the outside of the hood as an edging, and has as trimming a 15 mm black stripe on the lining at a distance of 30 mm from the white silk border.
Cap: black cloth trencher with black tassel.
Bachelors
Gown: as for the Cambridge Bachelor of Arts.
Hood: same size and shape as the Cambridge Master of Arts, and other than for a degree of Bachelor of Building Science (BBSc) or a Bachelor of Educational Studies (BEdSt) is lined with coloured silk and bordered with 40 mm (1½") white fur. The hood for the degree of Bachelor of Building Science is as for a Bachelor’s degree trimmed with a 15 mm black stripe on the lining at a distance of 30 mm from the fur border. The hood for the degree of Bachelor of Educational Studies (BEdSt) is lined with coloured silk and edged with white silk 75 mm wide, 15 mm being on the coloured silk lining as a binding and the remainder on the outside of the hood as an edging.
Cap: black cloth trencher with black tassel.
Diplomates and holders of certificates
Gown: black Cambridge Undergraduate-type.
Hood: none.
Cap: none.
Stole: Victoria University of Wellington stole.
Undergraduates
Gown: none.
Hood: none.
Cap: none.
Colours of the linings of the hoods for the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor’s degrees are as follows:
Architecture (BArch, MArch)- nasturtium (BCC 96)
Arts (BA, BA(Hons), MA)- rose pink (BCC 32) pink to 1969
Arts (Applied) (MA(Applied))- clover (BCC 229)
Biomedical Science (BBMedSc(Hons), MBMedSc(Hons))- honey bird (BCC 119)
Building Science (BBSc, BBS(Hons), MBSc)- nasturtium (BCC 96) with black stripe
Business Administration (MBA)- old gold (BCC 115)
Commerce (BCom- not now awarded)- orange (BCC 57)
Commerce and Administration (BCA, BCA(Hons), MCA)- marigold (BCC 56) [BCA MCA was old gold to 1969]
Design (BDes)- Kenya red (BCC 237)
Education (BEd, BEdSt, MEd)- peacock green (BCC 123) [BEd was formerly lined turquoise blue bordered white]
Laws (LLB, LLB(Hons), LLM, LLD)- pompadour (BCC 194) light blue to 1969
Literature (LitD)- rose pink (BCC 32) pink to 1969
Music (BMus, BMus(Hons), MMus, DMus)- white
Nursing (BNurs)- verdigris (BCC 202)
Public History (MPHist)- fuchsia (BCC 199) with lemon stripe
Public Policy (MPP)- buttercup (BCC 53)
Science (BSc, BSc(Hons), MSc, DSc)- empire blue (BCC 87) since 1969, was dark blue
Tourism and Services Management- French beige (BCC 166)
Colours of the stoles for the Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctor’s degrees are as follows:
Applied Finance (MAF)- champagne (BCC 4) with emerald stripe
Asia-Pacific Affairs (MAPA)- fuchsia (BCC 199) with mineral blue stripe
Communication (MComms)- champagne (BCC 4) with spectrum orange stripe
Computer Science (MCompSc)- adonis blue (BCC 85) with mineral blue stripe
Conservation Science (MConSc)- adonis blue (BCC 85) with lemon stripe
Conservation Biology (MConBio)- Adonis blue (BCC 85) with Beech Brown stripe
Development Studies (MDevStud)- Adonis blue (BBC 85) with spectrum orange stripe, formerly fuchsia (BCC 199) with lemon stripe
Environmental Studies (MEnvStud)- Adonis blue (BCC 85) with turquoise stripe (formerly plum)
Financial Mathematics (MFinMath)- champagne (BCC 4) with turquiose stripe, formerly Adonis blue (BCC 85) with spectrum orange stripe
Information Management (MIM)- champagne (BCC 4) with Beech Brown stripe
International Relations (MIR)- fuchsia (BCC 199) with turquoise stripe
Library and Information Studies (MLIS)- champagne (BCC 4) with mauve (BCC 225) stripe
Management (MMgt)- champagne (BCC 4) with spectrum violet stripe
Management Studies (MMS)- champagne (BCC 4) with Empire blue stripe
Management (in Technology) (MMS(Tech))- champagne (BCC 4) with mineral blue stripe
Museum and Heritage Studies - fuchsia (BCC 199) with pink stripe
New Zealand Studies (MNZS)- fuchsia (BCC 199) with purple stripe
Public History (MPHist)- fuchsia (BCC 199) with lemon stripe
Public Management (MPM)- champagne (BCC 4) with plum stripe
Theatre Arts - fuchsia (BCC 199) with white stripe
(1)Derived in part from the "Academic Dress Statute" published in the university Calendar.
(2)Conversation with Marie Hampton, Convenor of Academic Dress, Federation of University Women, Wellington Branch, 20 July 1996.
(3)Hugh Smith and Kevin Sheard, Academic Dress and Insignia of the World (AA Balkema, Cape Town, 1970) vol 1.
(4)Academic Dress Statute, rule 4.
(5)Rachel Barrowman, Victoria University of Wellington 1899-1999: A History. Wellington, Victoria University Press, p365.
(6)Rachel Barrowman, Victoria University of Wellington 1899-1999: A History. Wellington, Victoria University Press, p378.
(7)Graduates shall appear at all public ceremonies of the University in the academic dress proper to their degree, but doctors may on special occasions wear a scarlet gown; Academic Dress Statute, rule 4.
(8)Academic Dress Statute, rule 4.
(9)Academic Dress Statute, rule 4.