Pacific at the University of Auckland

✨👏🏾 Congratulations to – South Pacific Indigenous Engineering Students on receiving the national award for ‘Student Leadership’ at the Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau Auckland Awards.

We are incredibly proud of your leadership, service, and commitment to creating pathways for Māori and Pacific tauira in Engineering and Design. This award recognises your important kaupapa and uplifting tautua. Thank you for all you that do.

Ngā mihi nui, and congratulations on this outstanding milestone. 💜

Kia orana, introducing Alofipo Wesley Faasamoa Key Meredith, from the Faculty of Engineering. 🎓 Alofipo Wesley graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering with in Computer Systems Engineering.

“If an opportunity comes your way, go for it. You never know if you do not try, and what is there to lose!” ❤️ Raised in love, and inspired by her dear mum, Alofipo Wesley now works as a Graduate Software Engineer.

Vinaka vaka levu, Alofipo Wesley, for sharing your story with us. What an inspiration you are! Malo e ngaue! E te faia pea mea sili ma e manumalo ai lava 🌊

And that’s a wrap for grad pics from across the arena 🥹🎓🤩 we love graduation week! The highlight of our mahi is getting to see you and your kainga cross the finish line! Congratulations to all UOA grads for May 2026! We’ve still got grad profiles to share, so stay tuned. Malo le ngaue! 🌊 😍

It takes a village 🥹

Continuing the photo spam of our amazing 😍 cheeehoo! A huge congratulations to you all! We’re so stoked to be seeing you all cross the finish line ~ what a testimony of your resilience and determination. 🥹🌊🎓 Malo e ngaue! Also a reminder are offering free portraits so check them out before or after your ceremonies!

✨ Graduate Spotlight ~ meet Noelani Ah-Chong 🎓Noelani of Alamagoto, Salelologa, Safotu, and Si’usega, Samoa, graduated with a conjoint degree in Law and Commerce. A proud from Ōtara, she reflects on her journey, from humble beginnings, migration, struggle and triumph. As a former student of Sir Edmund Hillary, Otara she shares that her journey was “built on the sacrifice of my parents and the prayers of my grandparents”. This milestone is one of gratitude for Noelani, and she reminds her peers and aspiring lawyers that “you don’t need to be perfect to go to law school or to university, but you do need to give it your best!” Noelani also served as a UniBound Mentor and as the President of student-run association 🌊 Malo le tauivi, malo le finau, Noelani! Malo le fa’aeaea ‘āiga! You are the wildest dreams of your ancestors, and we wish you all the best for your future endeavours! ❤️

Continuing to shine the light on our who have crossed the finish line. 🎓 Malo le finau! Congratulations to you all and your village members. Malo e ako! ❤️🤩👏🏾✨🌊

Day one of UOA was for our Law and Engineering graduates 📸 some snaps from our Pacific grad’s who crossed the finish line today. 🤩🎓🎉 Congratulations to you all, as well as your families and loved ones. It takes a village ~ malo e ngaue! 👏🏾

🇹🇴🌴 Tongan scholar driven to improve community health outcomes. Meet Doctoral candidate Dougie ‘Atiola. Dougie comes from Hofoa and Kolomotu‘a through his father Alifeleti ‘Atiola, and Kolonga and Vaini through his mother ‘Aioema ‘Atiola. 🌊

Dougie’s journey into biomedical research at the University began as a patient in a hospital ward in Tonga. At just fourteen he was hospitalised with meningitis, which shaped his understanding of the importance of quality healthcare.

The second youngest of seven children, he grew up in a household where education and church were central pillars of family life.

After graduating from Toloa in 2012, Dougie completed Certificate in Health Science at the University, before completing a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science.m He was introduced to research examining how genetic variants in Polynesian populations relate to metabolic conditions.

“That was a turning point,” he says. “I realised that becoming a doctor isn’t the only way to improve health outcomes for our people. Research is another powerful pathway.”

That insight led Dougie into postgraduate study, completing a Masters degree with First Class Honours, and later embarking on a PhD in Biomedical Science. 🎓 He says pursuing a doctorate is not just a personal milestone - it’s about visibility, leadership, and “smashing the brown ceiling” in academia. 👏

He hopes his journey shows younger Pacific people, particularly those who grew up in Pacific nations outside Aotearoa, that a future in research is both possible and meaningful.

Looking ahead, Dougie’s long term aspiration is to remain in academia, contributing Pacific-led science that delivers tangible benefits for communities across the Moana.

“If my journey helps even one young Pacific person believe they belong in research,” he says, “then the work I’m doing is serving its purpose.”

Click below to read more of Dougie’s story 🤩

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2026/04/24/pacific-genetic-scholar-driven-to-improve-community-health-outcomes.html?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleARfmlhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAac-xnyB21CInOUZoLePep0AaXJ3ipW-nkaXwhdpSh4nKg71YeH9W2MS5WSyKw_aem_eQZsfnqwZJVb2aXW-22Fww&utm_id=97760_v0_s00_e0_tv3_a1dennh74qqwl2

🏉🇨🇰 Meet Dr Caleb Marsters ~ Senior Lecturer at Te Wānanga o Waipapa, School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies. He is of Cook Island (Rarotonga/Takitumu/Ngati Uirangi and Palmerston) and New Zealand Papa’a descent.

“Who shapes the future of Pacific Rugby?” In this powerful op-ed first published in Newsroom, Dr Caleb Marsters reflects on the demise of Moana Pasifika and what its loss exposes about power, control and representation in professional rugby.

While Pacific peoples remain central to the game’s talent, labour and cultural imagery, Dr Marsters argues they are still too often excluded from the real centres of decision-making and authority.

Moana Pasifika is more than a team - it symbolises the possibility of Pacific-led governance, ownership and self-determination in elite sport. As the franchise prepares to exit Super Rugby Pacific after the 2026 season, this piece asks an urgent question: if not Moana Pasifika, then who - and how - will Pacific communities shape their own rugby futures?

Linked below 🤩🏉🔖🇨🇰🌊

https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2026/04/29/with-moanas-pasifikas-demise-who-will-rise-to-shape-pacific-rugbys-future.html