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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.

"Oceania is vast, Oceania is expanding, Oceania is hospitable and generous, Oceania is humanity rising from the depths of brine and regions of fire deeper still, Oceania is us. We are the sea. We are the ocean." - Epeli Hau'ofa

News from AUT’s Pacific community

11 appointees to the Eke Tangaroa programme standing in front of AUT's wharenui.

Nurturing Māori and Pacific academics

Te Ara Poutama: Māori and indigenous development
A pōwhiri and celebration event was recently held for appointees to AUT's Eke Tangaroa programme for Māori and Pacific early career academics.

Where talent meets opportunity

South Campus programme helps address educational inequality
New AUT Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Advancement, Associate Professor Jacoba Matapo.

AUT announces new PVC Pacific

Associate Professor Jacoba Matapo from the Faculty of Culture and Society has been appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Advancement.
VC Damon Salesa

Covid’s decade long impact on education

The impact of Covid on our education system will be felt for a decade says Vice-Chancellor Damon Salesa in this NZ Herald opinion piece.
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Pacific staff at AUT

AUT is a vibrant, diverse and supportive organisation for work and study. You can find Pacific staff in positions of responsibility right across all departments at AUT. In this section, some of our Pacific staff share their stories.

Our staff

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.

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Meet some of our Pacific students

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Zoyha Zabin Nisha

Geospatial science is making a huge difference to her home country, says Master of Science (Research) student Zoyha Zabin Nisha who came to AUT from Fiji.
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Talavao Ngata

She would highly recommend studying social sciences, says Talavao Ngata who completed a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences and Conflict Resolution at AUT.
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Sauniuni Seleni

A Bachelor of Laws covers everything that is important to the country’s democratic set-up, says Sauniuni Seleni (Sauni) who is in the final year of his degree.
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Tali Tanuvasa-Titimanu

After observing how hard teachers work to support vulnerable children, she was inspired to become a teacher too, says education student Tali Tanuvasa-Titimanu.
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Shanee Kiriau

She loves contributing to social change in sport, says Shanee Kiriau who currently works at Women in Sport Aotearoa – Ngā Wāhine Hākinakina o Aotearoa.
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Jonathan Matthew Nguyen

Technology was a big part of his childhood, says Jonathan Matthew Nguyen who grew up in Vanuatu and came to AUT to study networks and cybersecurity.
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Arti Anjana Singh

She is fascinated by how technology can be used by businesses to improve systems, processes and the way people work and live, says Arti Anjana Singh.
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Simaima Paongo

She wants to improve the education system for Pacific learners, says Simaima Paongo who studied a Bachelor of Arts and is now enrolled in a Master of Education.
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Maxon Falepeau

For Maxon Falepeau, choosing to study architecture was an easy decision and he has been enjoying his Bachelor of Architecture and Future Environments.
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Annajane Leslie Schutz

A career in engineering has always been her dream, says Annajane Leslie Schutz who came to AUT from Kiribati to study a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours).
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Princess John

She has a passion for improving children’s nutrition in Papua New Guinea, says Princess John who came to AUT as an international student to study public health.
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Lourdaiz Ah Chong

Deciding to study business at AUT was easy, says Lourdaiz Ah Chong who accepted a graduate job offer from Forsyth Barr to join their Wealth Management division.
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Sueina Vaatausili

When Sueina Vaatausili was offered the chance to study a Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical Engineering in New Zealand, she jumped at the chance.
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Anjila Reddy

She loves her job, says AUT health sciences alumna Anjila Reddy who is now working as a podiatrist at The Foot Stop Podiatry Services on the Gold Coast.
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Rose Leauga

She didn’t choose midwifery; midwifery chose her, says Rose Leauga who is currently in her final year of her Bachelor of Health Science (Midwifery) at AUT.
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Contact details

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

You can also follow us on our social media channels.

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Office of Pacific Advancement

We’re committed to the advancement of the Pacific communities in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands through education, research, professional training, academic opportunities and partnerships.

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Student support

AUT offers a wide range of support through the Student Hub, and students can also be a part of the Oceanian Leadership Network. Pacific students can study or relax in the fono rooms on campus, and the Māori and Pasifika Postgraduate Student Wananga Series is a chance for postgraduate students to get together.

We also offer a number of scholarships for secondary school students, including the AUT Find Your Greatness Scholarships for Pacific students.

Visit from Samoa’s Prime Minister

AUT was honoured to host the Honourable Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa on her first official visit to Aotearoa New Zealand since becoming Prime Minister of Samoa. Fiamē joined AUT's Assistant Vice-Chancellor Pacific Advancement and South Campus, Walter Fraser, to share her insight into Samoa, leadership, the Pacific and the world.

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UniPrep programme

UniPrep is a four-week programme designed to make it easy for high school students to transition into university life. You’ll meet other high school students, as well as a wide support team of navigators who are current university students.

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