Nau mai, haere mai! Welcome! Talofa lava!
Malo e lelei! 

Coming to Laidlaw College, you are entering into a community that has been shaped by the Gospel and sustained by God’s faithfulness for over one hundred years. At Laidlaw, we learn together so that we are better equipped to renew God’s world. Orientation Week is our opportunity to welcome you; to introduce you to (or reconnect you with) the Laidlaw whānau; and to help orient and re-orient you on this part of your study journey. During the week you will meet your lecturers and classmates, receive support and study advice about the semester ahead, and connect with the community. 

Returning students—we want this week to be a time for reconnection and refreshment and opportunity to learn more about what is ahead of you in your courses this semester.

We will begin our week in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland with a Pōwhiri and in Ōtautahi / Christchurch with a Mihi Whakatau for new students and staff. There is plenty of parking in both locations. Any Distance Learning students in Auckland and Christchurch are more than welcome to come and join us for this! Returning students are invited to help us welcome our manuhiri. Please dress for this special occasion—long skirts or pants and tops with shoulders covered. No shorts, please!

Timetables

Timetables for Orientation week are below:

Auckland – 3 Smythe Road, Henderson 

Download Orientation Timetable Semester 2 Auckland

Christchurch – 70 Condell Avenue

Download Orientation Timetable Semester 2 Christchurch

Note that Year 3 BEd & GradDipEd (Secondary) students have their own programme of block courses during O Week, as advised by their School.

Distance Learning

There will be an on-line Orientation for Distance Learning students on Tuesday 14 July, 7.30-8.45pm.

We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you into our community. During the week you will meet your lecturers and classmates, receive support to complete your personal and study admin tasks and be introduced to academic student life at Laidlaw College. We can’t wait to meet you!

We look forward to hanging out and catching up in person and letting you know more about what's in store for you in your courses in semester 2. You’re expected to be here on your school programme day and we’d encourage you to build your skills in our Academic Workshops day. Auckland students, we’d love to see you at our morning of sports at Henderson High School on the Friday. 

Online zoom Orientation evening: Tuesday 14 July at 7:30pm. 

We will be welcoming new and returning Distance Learning students online via Zoom on the Tuesday evening of Orientation Week at 7.30 pm. The Zoom link will be on the timetable and also emailed to you closer to the time. 

If you are able and interested we would love to welcome you onsite at one of our campuses. Check out the schedule for the campus nearest you and let us know if you're able to join us! We're eating community lunches most days and would love to have you at the table with us.

Whakawhanaungatanga:  A warm welcome into the Laidlaw community (or welcome back if you are a returning student) with opportunities to connect with fellow students and staff and share kai together. 

Communication: We will keep you up-to-date via email, Facebook, and our website and are here to answer your questions as best we can!

Whakawhanaungatanga: Your presence and participation. Let’s do this together. Come and get to know us!

Study details: We expect you to have completed your personal administrative tasks to be ready for your study and be prepared to learn more from us about what the semester has in store. Come and see us during O-week to finalise: public trust forms, study contracts and student ID cards. Henderson students will also need to get their campus access sorted (via a phone App) and collect their carpark pass, if needed. We can also support you with changes to course selections.

Communication: We expect you to ask questions if something isn’t clear or you don’t understand. No question is too silly.

AUCKLAND STUDENTS

Orientation schedules and sessions: Jenny Mackie
Student and community life: Jenny Mackie

Programme-specific questions:    
Education & Counselling: Tracey Hunt  
Theology: Brittany Hartmann
Theology - Postgrad: Louise Wernich

Course selection – Theology: Fiona Fey   
Course selection – Counselling and Education: Tracey Hunt
Study Contracts and Public Trust Forms: Rita Liu

CHRISTCHURCH STUDENTS

All general Christchurch campus and student questions can be directed to Mele Ta’akimoeaka
Course advising – Theology: Rowena Stevenson
Course advising - Counselling & Education: Emily Baird

DISTANCE LEARNING STUDENTS

All distance learning students can contact Fia Esera for more information.