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 Tonga Language Week

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

Launch of the online “Dictionary of the Māori Language of Rarotonga” at Te Ipukarea Research Institute, Auckland University of Technology, for Cook Islands Language Week

Launch of Online Rarotongan Dictionary

Language and culture

Te Ipukarea Research Institute has partnered with the Cook Islands Language project to launch an online dictionary for Cook Island Māori.

Celebrate Cook Islands Language Week

Art and design

AUT celebrates Epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki 'Airani|Cook Islands Māori Language Week.

It’s Vanuatu Bislama Language Week

AUT is this week proudly celebrating the first Vanuatu Bislama language week in the 2025 Pacific Language Series.

Meet some of our Pacific students

Caleb Jasmat

He believes that he has one of the coolest and most impactful roles in his company, says business alumnus Caleb Jasmat who is now the early career lead at Contact Energy.

Levi McMillan

He truly enjoys the dynamic nature of his work, says Levi McMillan who studied advertising and now works as a social content creator for DDB.

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.

Petronilla Louisa Tamari

Deciding to study economics and finance was easy, says Petronilla Louisa Tamari who came to AUT as an international student from Papua New Guinea.

Wairua Taru Grant Pukeiti

He wanted a career where he can make a difference to his people, says Wairua Taru Grant Pukeiti who studied criminology, Māori development and law at AUT.

Manshikha Chand

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

Ulima Tofi

His time at AUT shaped his passion for Māori and Pacific communities, says Ulima Tofi who completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Physiotherapy) and a Master of Health Practice.

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.

Jeremiah Rogo

He loves his career as a lighting designer for Beca, says art and design alumnus Jeremiah Rogo who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Design in Spatial Design.

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).

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.

Anna Taufao

She wakes up every day happy to be in the job she is in, says Anna Taufao who studied mathematical sciences and is now a financial crime investigator at Westpac NZ.

Zak Tulua

He would love to see more culturally diverse events in his home community of Ōtara in South Auckland, says Zak Tulua who is studying event management.

Jennifer Olivia (Olivia) Uhrle

For AUT business alumna Jennifer Olivia (Olivia) Uhrle, finding her path towards the technology career she has today was a bit of journey.

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.

You can also follow us:

Instagram

Facebook

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.