Pacific at AUT

This is your central hub for all things Pacific at AUT. Here you will hear stories of our staff and students at AUT, discover our engagement with communities, and learn more of the research that impacts the lives of our Pacific people.

Office of Pacific Advancement

Support at AUT

Whether you're a Pacific student, Pacific staff member or a part of our wider Pacific community, the Office of Pacific Advancement has been set up to champion all things Pacific here at Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makau Rau - Auckland University of Technology.

Pacific student
support

The team who offers support at AUT

We have a team of Taunga dedicated to supporting Pacific students across all three campuses. From academic and financial support to pastoral care and food, our Vā Pasifika spaces exist to help every Pacific student throughout their university journey.

AUT celebrates 2025 UniPrep graduates

AUT’s South Campus was one of celebration recently as 206 school leavers graduated from the University’s UniPrep programme.

Six New Kaihoe Join AUT's Eke Tangaroa

AUT welcomes six new Kaihoe to Eke Tangaroa, a key initiative supporting Māori and Pacific academics' growth and success within the University.

Tonga’s future lives in its villages

Te Ara Poutama: Māori and indigenous development

Connections between a remote Tongan village and its expats in South Auckland is the subject of a new documentary being made at AUT.

Rift highlights drivers of foreign aid

Law

The NZ-Kiribati diplomatic rift shows how personalities and misunderstanding can often drive foreign policy and aid, says AUT Law School’s Sione Tekiteki.

Meet some of our Pacific students

Gyllian Falute Taei

She loves the community her work helps to create, says communication studies alumna Gyllian Falute Taei who is one founders of the Sue Taei Ocean Fellowship.

Shaye Va

Her love of the ocean is what encouraged her to study science, says Shaye Va who completed a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences and Marine Biology.

Lavenia Ana Taliai-Mataitini

The resources and employability support she had access to at AUT have been among the highlights of her time at university, says Lavenia Ana Taliai-Mataitini.

Jasween Jyoti Mala

She has always been passionate about justice, fairness and making a difference in society, says Jasween Jyoti Mala who came to AUT to study law.

Ledwina Katuke

Her interest in holistic wellbeing inspired her to study a Bachelor of Health Science, says Ledwina Katuke who is currently in the third year of her degree.

Dilon Kumar

The numerous opportunities he has access to are what he loves most about his studies, says Dilon Kumar who is completing a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and Marketing.

Claudine Nalesu

Through her PhD research in creative technologies she can explore sustainable methods and materials, says Doctor of Philosophy student Claudine Nalesu.

Marie Loraine Esekielu

She had always wanted to gain a uni qualification to repay her parents for their hard work, says Marie Loraine Esekielu who came to AUT as an adult student.

Pareura Katoa (PJ)

He decided to take on the Graduate Diploma in Sport and Exercise to gain new knowledge for his career, says Pareura Katoa (PJ) who works for the NZDF.

Esther Sarah Fanene

Studying business opens a lot of doors, says Esther Sarah Fanene who is studying a Bachelor of Business in Marketing with a minor in Event Management.

Grace Ulu

She genuinely loved her communication studies degree, says Grace Ulu, who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Public Relations.

Hannah Cartman

Hannah Cartman may have only finished her sport management degree a few years ago, but she has already had the chance to work with two very different national sporting bodies.

Monique Oyagawa

There have been many pinch-me moments since she joined Remix Magazine in 2021 as part of her AUT business workplace experience, says Monique Oyagawa.

Oliver Bonner-Hutton

He loves the variety and flexibility of his work, says Oliver Bonner-Hutton who studied mechanical engineering and now works as a water engineer for WSP.

Kalisolaite ‘Uhila

What he loves most about being an artist is when people connect with his work, says Kalisolaite ‘Uhila who is now an award-winning performance artist.

View all

Contact details

You can get in touch by emailing pacific@aut.ac.nz.

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Eke Tangaroa

Eke Tangaroa is a unique programme designed to increase the number of Māori and Pacific academics at AUT by appointing early career academics and supporting them to establish research-active academic careers.