What changes has the University of Auckland made to accommodate Pacific Islander students?

They've expanded Pasifika student support, added dedicated staff and a Pacific space, boosted scholarships, and embedded Pacific voices in governance and curricula.

Starting my first year at the University of Auckland, I felt a bit overwhelmed, but the changes they had made for Pasifika students were obvious. There was a dedicated Pasifika Student Support team in the Student Hub who checked in with me during orientation, helped map my course plan, and pointed me to scholarships I wouldn’t have found on my own. The university also opened a Pacific-focused space where I could drop in between lectures, meet peers, join study groups, or catch up with mentors who understood our lived realities. Tutors and academic advisers began to incorporate Pacific contexts into tutoring and advising, which made complex topics feel more relevant and less intimidating. Staff training on cultural safety started to become routine, and I noticed more Pacific lecturers and tutors across faculties. There were regular Pacific language and culture events, a sense of community that families could attend, and student councils that actually consulted Pasifika voices in decisions. Not perfect, but it made university feel possible and mine.