Māori and Pasifika

The Faculty is committed to fulfilling our obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and nurturing diversity across Pacific cultures.

Pasifika dance performance at graduation.

The schools work closely with Āwhina, Pasifika Student Success, Student Learning and other services to support and faciliate the success of Māori students and Pasifika students in the Faculty, and to ensure a genuinely inclusive learning environment. Some of the initiatives are listed below.

Mentoring and equity tutors

Mentors, school support tutors and our Māori and Pasifika second-year transition liaisions are typically alumni or more experienced students who work one-to-one with students to ensure they are well supported in their learning and student experience. They may also offer group workshops.

Māori and Pasifika tutorials

Some schools in the Faculty offer designated tutorials for Māori and Pasifika students, to provide an an opportunity to interact and make connections with people who come from similar cultural contexts, communities and/or learning environments. Some are explicitly kaupapa-driven, with an emphasis on an alternative, collaborative, culturally-led approach to teaching and learning.

Study and success groups

Study groups and success groups aim to bring Māori and Pasifika students from one or more courses together. These groups are facilitated by support tutors or academic staff and are designed to help students get to know each other, study and share ideas to work on specific assessments and coursework.

Study wānanga

In preparation for examinations, Āwhina and Pasifika Student Success run study wānanga that invites all Māori and Pasifika students to participate in course-specific examination preparation sessions. These sessions are facilitated by lecturers and tutors of the courses and run over 3–4 days.

Postgraduate support

Āwhina and Pasifika Student Success offer networking opportunities and support for Māori and Pasifika postgraduate students.

Māori and Pasifika PhD students can also join MAI ki Poneke, part of an international network of Māori and indigenous postgraduate students hosted by Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga at the University of Auckland. This network provides advice, support and information to PhD students in the Wellington area, as well as those who are thinking about enrolling in a doctorate. It offers monthly regional meetings, regular workshops and a mentoring programme.

Māori and Pasifika liaison staff

All our schools have dedicated Māori and Pasifika liaison staff, whose contact details are provided on each school's student support pages:

Māori at the University

The Māori community at Victoria University of Wellington supports all its students to achieve success. Find out about your whānau on campus and how they can help with your aspirations on the Māori at the University website.

Pasifika at the University

The Pasifika community at Victoria University of Wellington works together to support students towards academic success. Find out about Pasifika university and community networks, news and events on the Pasifika hub website.