Unitec celebrated the spiritual and religious diversity of its kaimahi and ākonga at both campuses this week.
Spirituality Awareness Day was observed at the Mt Albert campus on Wednesday, 13 August and Waitakere on Thursday, 14 August.
This celebration is part of the Interfaith Awareness Week from 10-16 August 2025 which is coordinated by the World Interfaith Network.
“Since 2005 the Unitec MultiFaith Chaplaincy Team has facilitated Spirituality Awareness Days on both the Mt Albert and Waitakere campuses,” says Ricky Waters, Coordinator Chaplaincy and Multi-faith Team.
“It is an opportunity to celebrate the spiritual diversity of our students and staff.”
Representatives from several religious and spiritual organisations were present on both days to talk to kaimahi and ākonga at a number of manned stands in Te Puna and the Rangimarie space at Waitakere.
Among the groups present were Christian Science, Rhema Media, Life FM, Gideons International, Sukyo Mahikara, At Taqwa Trust, NZ Islamic Information Services, Baha’i Faith in New Zealand, The Religious Diversity Centre, Sri Chinmoy Centre, and the Unitec Chaplaincy Team.
Mr Waters says many of our ākonga were able to engage with stallholders to support their own spirituality.
“Students and staff could meet someone from a different spiritual and religious perspective and learn about their beliefs and practises,” he remarks.
“Auckland is the seventh most diverse city in the world – and the 15th on the religious diversity measure so any opportunity to engage with diversity is a bonus.”
Pacific Success Navigator and SOAR (Spirituality Oversight and Religion) member, Pava Saifoloi adds: “It is important we come together as a Unitec whānau to recognise and celebrate our diversity and also respect the values and beliefs we live by so Spirituality Awareness Day is important.”
