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.

This week Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu – Tuvalu Language Week is being celebrated across Aotearoa.

AUT celebrates Tuvalu Language Week 2025

Vaiaso o te Gana Tuvalu is being celebrated across Aotearoa this week.

Unity elusive at Pacific Islands Forum

Law

The Pacific Islands Forum has wrapped up its annual leaders' meeting with some significant agreements - but integration remains a contested term.

Papua New Guinea Pidgin Language Week

Papua Niugini Tok Pisin Wikis being celebrated across Aotearoa this week.

AUT celebrates Tonga Language Week

Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga is being celebrated across Aotearoa this week.

Meet some of our Pacific students

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.

Joe Lolo

Education has been a passion since school, says Joe Lolo who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Arts in Education with a minor in English and New Media Studies.

Amelia Rose Lingbu

Being able to work with people is one of the things she loves most about being an interpreter, says Amelia Rose Lingbu who studied a Graduate Certificate in Arts.

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.

Rachel Suesue

Caring for her family through illness sparked her passion for wanting to help others, says Rachel Suesue who is studying a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing).

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.

Tane Wolfgramm

For Tane Wolfgramm, being able to create content for The Blues rugby team and travel with the team all over the world is a dream come true.

Bhavna Prakash

Her lecturers were the highlight of her time at AUT, says Bhavna Prakash who studied a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in international hospitality management.

Manshikha Chand

Computers have always fascinated her, says Manshikha Chand, an international student from Fiji who is now studying networks and cybersecurity, and accounting.

Scott Woodford

He loves being able to support the sport he loves through his work, says Scott Woodford who is based in the FIFA Regional Development Office in Auckland.

Tanvi Narayan

She loves her role in the brand team of NZ Wine, says Tanvi Narayan who studied both event management and finance, and graduated from AUT in 2023.

Phoenix Petelo

From a young age he has been deeply fascinated by the core sciences, says Phoenix Petelo who is studying a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biological Science.

Freda Pake

She is proud to have been chosen to represent Papua New Guinea in the World Bank’s Early Childhood Development Fellowship programme, says Freda Pake.

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.

Claudine Nalesu

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

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.