Warm Pacific Greetings from Otago Talofa Lava and Warm Obligation Or Duty Remains the Same

Pacificana Warm Pacific greetings from Otago Talofa Lava and Warm obligation or duty remains the same. It is your “the family teaches job, students, to take our communities further Pacific Greetings into the big world out there full of wonderful US THE IMPORTANCE OF opportunities. As one of our elders said to his KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, The University of Otago has had a long son, “I struggled in the factory for 30 years to relationship with people of the Pacific. You HARD WORK AND EFFORT. see you get into university and be someone, not need only to look at our leaders over the years IT TEACHES US ABOUT to follow me into the factory”. Education was who have led our communities to the new one of the main reasons why we migrated and ENJOYING OURSELVES, cultures of opportunity. The formidable likes continue to do so – to ensure our fanau receive of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara from Fiji and Sir HAVING FUN, KEEPING FIT the education and the opportunities that come Tom Davis from the Cook Islands are just two. and healthy.” from it. The Pacific Islands Centre’s primary Their exceptional experiences here at Otago, role is to help you utilise those opportunities. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and how far they took us, established a pathway Together with the academic divisions, the Former Prime Minister and President of Fiji for the many successors that followed. Kamisese Centre works to ensure the success of our Mara, a former resident at Knox College while Pacific students. studying towards a medical degree, continued his education at Oxford University before The Dunedin campus is just like a village of returning to be the first Prime Minister of Fiji families, aiga or kainga – small and friendly, and helping to establish the Pacific Forum. Tom with everyone looking out for one another. Davis became a NASA scientist and returned to You will be welcomed as a family member, be the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. The and we will make sure that you return to your old clique sounds louder here – if they could do family and community with your mission it then, when there was hardly any academic or accomplished. Life is all about taking up pastoral support, you can do it now with all the opportunities and running with them. It’s all support the University provides. about you – the student – and how much you want to succeed. All you need to bring with you Read the personal stories featured in this is your determination to succeed. prospectus to get an appreciation of how much the University has contributed to the making of our communities, and vice versa. Pacific Islanders, whether Island-born or New Zealand-born, are high achievers. Our ancestors journeyed the rough seas to bring us to this Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai new country that many of us now call home. Manager, Pacific Islands Centre They appreciated the opportunities here and sought to pursue them. In this 21st century, our 1 Welcome The University of Otago was New Zealand’s first development of activities that promote improved university and remains its finest. The University rates of access, retention and completion among has an outstanding international reputation for students of indigenous Pacific descent. the quality of its teaching and research. Otago graduates hold key positions in many countries On behalf of everyone at the University of Otago, I around the world. would like to offer a very warm welcome to Pacific students. We are delighted to have you here, and For many years the University of Otago has will do anything possible to make your time at welcomed students from the Pacific Islands. After Otago fruitful and enjoyable. This publication graduating from the University, many of these is intended to provide specific information for people have provided notable leadership and Pacific students who are considering enrolling at service in their own countries (including several the University of Otago. We hope that you will Prime Ministers). Increasingly Pacific students find it useful. Please do not hesitate to contact us born in New Zealand are also choosing the if you have additional questions. University of Otago for their education. The University’s commitment to Pacific aspirations is articulated in its Pacific Strategic Framework (2013–2020), which marks a Professor Harlene Hayne significant milestone in the University’s Vice-Chancellor longstanding engagement with local, national and regional Pacific communities. The Framework is ambitious in scope and sets targets to support the People of the Pacific and the University 3 “For a PaciFIC FAMILY OR COMMUNITY, WHEN ONE GRADUATES, THE WHOLE FAMILY and community graduates.” Tofilau Nina Kirifi Alai Pacific Islands Centre Manager It may be the southernmost university in New Zealand, but people of the Pacific have a long history and valued presence at the University of Otago. Our Pacific students study across all subjects Plus, the University offers students the at the University, and have gone on to careers opportunity to learn about their own history in various government ministries, religious and culture through papers and degrees offered roles, health, education, law, diplomacy and at Te Tumu, the School of Māori, Pacific and much more. There are currently approximately Indigenous Studies. Furthermore, in 2015 700 students with a Pacific heritage – both a Fijian language paper was offered at the New Zealand- and Island-born – studying University of Otago – the first in any university at Otago. These include students from Fiji, in New Zealand. Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Solomon Islands, Pacific issues are also addressed in subjects Marshall Islands, Tokelau Islands, Papua New across the University, including law, politics, Guinea, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Hawaii, Tahiti, New health, sciences and music. Caledonia, Vanuatu and the Cook Islands. Pacific Islands students also come here from Indeed, it is inscribed in the University’s Australia and the USA. Charter that Otago will continue to focus on the needs of Pacific people. The University is Not only has Otago influenced the lives and committed to ongoing consultation with the careers of our Pacific students, but the students Pacific communities, and to serving them are making a lasting contribution to the through our teaching, research, support University as well. The University celebrates networks and international relationships. This and supports its Pacific community through a is reflected in the University’s Pacific Strategic range of networks and support systems. Plan, launched in 2012. We welcome the perspectives and diversity Education is recognised as a key means for Pacific people bring to Otago – including their ensuring the strong future of Pacific people. The contribution to our arts, music, sports and University of Otago is extremely proud to play a science! part in assisting all Pacific people to excel. What’s so Good About Going to University? “i am the graduate oF THREE UNIVERSITIES. THAT MUST say something.” Sir Tom Davis Former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands and Otago graduate For some students, going to university is a It’s all good news, although leaving home to study family tradition. For others, it may be a family in a far-off city can still sound daunting. But it or community dream: many Pacific Islanders needn’t be – because Otago has people to offer leave the warmth of their shores to seek new a helping hand at every step of the journey from opportunities and ensure their children access school to success. the excellent education New Zealand can offer. If you want to be the best that you can be, The University of Otago is well aware of the Otago is for you. aspirations Pacific people have for their young people, and has been heavily involved in realising these educational dreams since the late 1960s. It is also aware that for an increasing number, university is a new experience, and they are blazing a trail for others to follow. It’s an important start in life, and one that will influence lifetime choices in years to come. At university, students gain skills that can help to improve their own lives, the lives of their families and communities. Sir Tom Davis at a celebration upon gaining an Honourary Doctorate of Laws at Otago in 2005. 5 student profile Hans To’o expected to go to “Law and Information Technology on campus is immense. Like the university in his hometown of are two different disciplines but colleges and departments, they’re Hans To’o Wellington, but a visit to Otago they’re a good combination and always there for you and that’s Law and Commerce for a Pacific Islands students’ On it’s exciting when they overlap.” very reassuring.” Campus Experience changed his He spent his first two years at Hans hasn’t decided on his future mind. Selwyn College, where he made path when he graduates, but he “I got to see the student-focused friends he believes he’ll keep for already has choices. culture and the awesome lifestyle life. “The colleges are a melting He came to Otago with a Māori that the University and its colleges pot of people so you can get a and Pacific Peoples’ scholarship of residence had to offer. The good worldly view and see things and a scholarship from campus is much more compact in different ways by interacting accounting firm PwC, and has and there’s a great student with different people. If you take recently completed a clerkship community. You get experiences every opportunity to surround with corporate lawyers Chapman that you would never get staying yourself with good people, you Tripp. Both firms have offers on at home.” will leave university with so much the table.

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