Unitec School of Creative Industries

01/09/2026

Alumni Spotlight | Master of Creative Practice

Join artist and Unitec Master of Creative Practice graduate, Atarangi Anderson for a lecture exploring her practice of making, research and the intergenerational transmission of knowledge through aute and the revitalisation of Māori barkcloth practices.

Wednesday, September 2
Artspace
292 Karangahape Road, Auckland
6 PM - 7 PM

FREE to attend

www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/deep-dive-lecture-by-atarangi-anderson-tickets-1993108248424?aff=oddtdtcreator

27/08/2026

What does it take to step into the professional theatre world? 🎭🔥

Our Year 3 Unitec Actors found out firsthand as Ensemble members in Auckland Theatre Company’s recent production of MACBETH — working alongside industry professionals while building the skills, resilience, confidence, and professionalism essential for a career on stage.

In this Reel, Shayla Hann and four of her classmates give us a glimpse behind the scenes of their Ensemble experience — and what it really takes to be part of a professional production. 👏✨

Ngā mihi nunui Auckland Theatre Company we can’t thank you enough for this excellent experience and celebrate everyone on this mammoth season!!
🤩👑👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Bravo Shayla, Ben, Zoe, Cole, Nesta and Liam (not in video). ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

26/08/2026

🎬 A day of Screen Arts at Unitec!

As part of their annual academic exchange, 11 students from Hebei University of Engineering (HUE) spent a day with our Screen Arts team for a hands-on ‘Short Bites’ workshop.

Led by Screen Arts graduate George Gao and lecturer Rebecca Bernard, the students spent the morning learning camera and filming techniques before heading into editing in the afternoon, where they reviewed the footage they’d captured.

A fun, hands-on introduction to filmmaking and a taste of Screen Arts life at Unitec. 🎥✨



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Interested in knowing more about the Unitec Screen Arts Programme?

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️Join us at UNITEC OPEN DAY, 5 September 10am -2pm!

Meet the team, visit our Film studio, editing suites and more.

Visit: https://www.unitec.ac.nz/career-and-study-options/creative-industries/screen-arts/

25/08/2026

Kaimahi Spotlight

🎬 Big international opportunity for NZ Filmmaker

Congratulations to Matthew Saville (Screen Arts lecturer), who has been selected for the Toronto International Film Festival’s inaugural International Financing & Project Market.

The Frogman, is a psychological dramedy and the only film from Aotearoa selected for the programme, alongside 40 films from across the globe.

Ka rawe Matt - we'll be cheering you on from campus 👏🏼✨

Read more via TIFF : tiff.net/themarket/programming/international-financing-and-project-market

25/08/2026

Our Unitec Year 3 Acting students stepped into the world of solo performance with Single-Handed, a collection of solo theatre works created by our emerging artists.

For the first time, three of our Acting students brought their own work to the stage at Basement Theatre, giving them the chance to create, perform, and connect with an audience in one of Auckland’s much-loved spaces.

Ngā mihi nui to the Directors Batanai Mashingaidze and Tom Clarke 🫶🏽🔥and Lighting Design and Operation, Alylai Flynn who guided and supported our students through this season; the team at Basement Theatre for their warm hospitality and safe, creative space. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

S/o to our Acting Discipline Lead, Sam Snedden, for orchestrating it all.

A great milestone for our emerging actors as they continue building their confidence, creativity, and experience beyond campus. 😍💖🙌🏾

Congratulations to Brian Ndayishmiye, Niki Saeidian and
Winston Katoanga. 🔥🔥🔥

20/08/2026

Alumni Spotlight | ‘Isope ‘Akau’ola

As a Tongan-New Zealand contemporary dancer, choreographer, and NZ Dance Company Artist, ‘Isope has been cementing his place in Aotearoa's vibrant dance community ever since graduating from Unitec in 2022.

He describes Unitec Dance as a space where he could safely take risks, challenge his limits, and truly grow as a person and an artist.🙌

Applications for 2027 are now open.

👇 Tag an aspiring dancer who needs to see this, or click the link below to apply!

🔗 https://www.unitec.ac.nz/career-and-study-options/creative-industries/contemporary-dance/bachelor-of-performing-and-screen-arts-contemporary-dance/

🎥 Jessie McCall (Class of 2009)

We ❤️ ‘Isope ‘Akau’ola! This wonderful dancer graduated from Unitec...

19/08/2026

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

🎭 A must-see production packed with Unitec talent!

If you're looking for a great night of theatre, An Enemy of the People is currently on at Q Theatre and features an incredible lineup of Unitec alumni both onstage and behind the scenes.

⭐ Director: Grace Augustine (2015)
⭐ Set & Props Designer: Aaron Richardson (2016)

⭐ Cast: Sarah Nessia (2015), Grace Cullen (2016), Fraser Hoffman (2017) & Jessica Bennett (2021)

⭐ Sound Designer: Laika Rountree (2021)
⭐ Costume Designer: Lauren Millar

It's always inspiring to see our graduates creating bold, ambitious work, and hearing how their time at Unitec helped shape their creative journeys.

💬 "I owe everything I know about theatre and performance to my time at Unitec. It was a special time in my life and I'm grateful for everything I learned."— Aaron Richardson

💬 "Tautoko! Unitec gave me my toolkit which I still use every day, a community of collaborators and so much rich, wonderful knowledge that I treasure. Truly the best years of my life. A dream place where you train and make theatre all day every day."
— Grace Augustine

If you can, get along and support this amazing group of alumni and the wider theatre community. 🎭❤️

🎟️ $20 Rush tickets are available (limited availability)

👉 Book tickets here: www.iticket.co.nz/events/2026/aug/an-enemy-of-the-people-by-henrik-ibsen

If you have friends, classmates, or fellow theatre lovers who'd enjoy this show, share this post and help spread the word.

Know someone involved? Tag them below! 👇

18/08/2026

Mālō e lelei! Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga – Happy Tongan Language Week

“Speaking Tongan allows me to express who I am, where I come from and the family, kainga and kin I am connected to.”

For Master of Creative Practice student Sesilia Pusiaki, lea faka-Tonga is a powerful connection to identity, whakapapa and community.

Sesilia keeps her language and culture alive through everyday life, from speaking lea faka-Tonga at home and participating in faiva fakatonga, to church, Tongan music and spending time with Tongan elders.

Her Tongan knowledge and cultural heritage also inform her academic practice, drawing on genealogy, oral histories, storytelling and lived experience.

This Tongan Language Week, we celebrate Sesilia’s voice and the many ways language carries culture, identity and connection across generations and communities.

Mālō ‘aupito Sesilia for sharing your story.🇹🇴

Image Credit: Matt Crawford

16/08/2026

🎨 Join us for a Floor Talk with artists Linda Cook and Adrienne Vaughan, sharing insights into their exhibition at Toi o Wairaka.

📅 Tuesday 25 August 2026
🕚 11.00am - 12.00pm
📍 Toi o Wairaka

All welcome! ✨