The Office of Pacific Advancement

The Office of Pacific Advancement at AUT is committed to the advancement of the Pacific communities in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands through education, research, professional training, academic opportunities and partnerships.

Role of the Office of Pacific Advancement

The Office of Pacific Advancement aims to strengthen AUT’s contribution to the advancement of Pacific peoples at AUT and in the wider community. This continues to be accomplished by various strategic initiatives the office provides in support of Pacific students, staff and communities in New Zealand and in the Pacific region.

Our students, alumni and staff are empowered to assume positions of responsibility and leadership to make extraordinary contributions to the university and wider community.

AUT’s Pacific advancement initiatives

AUT and the Office of Pacific Advancement are leading initiatives designed to:

• Maintain relationships with Pacific communities and key stakeholders in New Zealand and in the wider Pacific region
• Provide dedicated support through case management, academic tutoring and data analysis to raise success rates for Pacific students in targeted papers
• Deliver targeted programmes for primary, intermediate and high school students to create a pipeline transition into university
• Develop an Oceanian Leadership Network for AUT students to provide academic support, mentorship and opportunities for personal growth
• Celebrate the New Zealand Pacific language weeks by developing short videos for social media to increase awareness and generate discussion on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals
• Support a programme designed to increase the number of Pacific academics working at universities in New Zealand
• Deliver a five-week university preparation programme designed to assist students in their successful transition into university
• Encourage students into high school subject pathways by using robotic projects in order to provide a greater opportunity of achieving University Entrance
• Promote and empower AUT’s Pacific staff across the university by sharing their research and staff profiles across various digital platforms
• Deliver a comprehensive mentoring and leadership programme aimed at high achieving Pacific students
• Implement study sessions, various workshops and mid-semester programmes to enhance the success of students

Physical address

Postal address

Contact our team

Walter Fraser

Head of Pacific Advancement

Phone +64 9 921 9704

Email: wfraser@aut.ac.nz

Kate Scott

Executive Assistant

Phone +64 9 921 9704

Email: kate.scott@aut.ac.nz

Veronica Ng Lam

Director - Strategic Projects & Initiatives

Phone +64 9 921 9713

Email: vnglam@aut.ac.nz

Isabella Rasch

Pacific Student Support Advisor

Phone +64 9 921 9892

Email:irasch@aut.ac.nz

Tony Solomona

Student Co-ordinator

Phone +64 9 921 9893

Email: tsolomon@aut.ac.nz

Agnelia Brown

Engagement Co-ordinator

Phone +64 9 921 9999 ext. 8043

Email: agnelia.brown@aut.ac.nz

Brooke Stanley

Academic Navigator

Phone +64 9 921 9999 ext. 7882

Email: brooke.stanley@aut.ac.nz

Raees Ali

Analyst

Phone +64 9 921 9999 ext. 7411

Email: raees.ali@aut.ac.nz

Corey Sio

Oceanian Senior Navigator

Phone +64 9 921 9999 ext. 5233

Email: corey.sio@aut.ac.nz

Joshua Iosefo

Oceanian Senior Navigator

Phone +64 9 921 9999 ext. 6387

Email: joshua.iosefo@aut.ac.nz