Pasifika at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington

21/06/2026

Applications are now open for the BCG 2026 Indigenous Internship & Scholarship program!

We are looking for talented indigenous students who are passionate about creating positive impact in your communities and beyond.

Apply here to start your journey with BCG:
https://careers.bcg.com/global/en/locations/australia-and-new-zealand/first-nations-internship-scholarship-program

18/06/2026

Following an inspiring talanoa this week with Dr Tearinaki Tanielu, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration for the Republic of Kiribati, the Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Pasifika | Vaka Tangata Moana is pleased to continue our Pasifika Staff Success Series with our July Talanoa.

In partnership with Development Studies, we are honoured to welcome and host Dr Paula Vivili, Director-General of the Pacific Community (SPC), for a Pasifika Leadership Talanoa. As the first Tongan to lead the Pacific region’s oldest and largest scientific and technical organisation, Dr Vivili brings a wealth of experience in public health, sustainable development, climate resilience, and Pacific-led leadership. Join us for an inspiring conversation as Dr Vivili shares his leadership journey, reflections on serving Pacific communities, and insights on leading at regional and global levels.

18/06/2026

We’re proud to celebrate Litara Ieremia-Allan, a graduate of Va'aomanū Pasifika, Victoria University of Wellington, whose journey continues to inspire across the Pacific and beyond.

Litara received the Teresia Teaiwa Memorial Scholarship during her studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and has gone on to achieve remarkable milestones – winning Miss Sāmoa 2024 and Miss Pacific Islands 2025.

She has used the platform to champion leadership, culture, and advocacy. From presenting at the COP29 climate conference alongside Sāmoa’s youth delegation, to creating her podcast Upu Fa’amalosi to connect and uplift tamaitai Sāmoa, her impact is powerful and far-reaching.

Litara speaks of the Miss Pacific Islands pageant as a space celebrating Pacific identity, leadership, and ‘mamalu’ – embodying dignity, service, and quiet confidence. Her journey reflects the strength of Pacific women and the importance of staying grounded in culture, language, and community.

We also honour the enduring legacy of Associate Professor Teresia Teaiwa, whose vision continues to empower Pacific students through two scholarships in Pacific Studes – one each for undergraduate and postgraduate students. For more information on this and other scholarships available, visit our Scholarships page:
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/scholarships

Read the full article on Litara here: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/news/2026/06/miss-pacific-islands-crown-opens-doors-for-pacific-studies-alumna

18/06/2026

Our Assistant Vice Chancellor Pasifika with New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Kiribati, His Excellency Pati Gagau, an alumnus of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Where will your Te Herenga Waka degree take you?

18/06/2026

Photos from the recent visit by Dr Tearinaki Tanielu – Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Republic of Kiribati to Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

12/06/2026

Interested in studying at Te Herenga Waka — where dreams are realised, talent is harnessed, and futures are shaped? We’d love to talanoa with you about your options and the scholarships available. Explore what’s possible: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/scholarships/find-scholarships?category=pasifika&strict=false

08/06/2026

04/06/2026

As tangata moana, we stand with our whānau as they mourn the passing of Sir Hirini Moko Mead, our respected rangatira. Manuia lou malaga.

E te whānau o Te Herenga Waka, kua hinga tō tātau koroua a Tā Hirini Moko Mead. Nāna tō tātau whare, tō tātau marae i whakatū, hai whakaruruhau mō te tini me te mano o ngā ākonga, o ngā kaimahi, me ngā manuhiri nō ngā hau e whā.

It is with great sadness that Te Herenga Waka acknowledges the passing of Professor Tā Hirini Moko Mead, the first Professor of Māori Studies at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. His vision and leadership saw our marae established, providing a Māori space for countless students, staff, and visitors over the years. More importantly, he has provided a bedrock of scholarship on mātauranga Māori that continues to be at the cornerstone of Māori Studies.

Professor Rawinia Higgins, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori and Kaitiakitanga, says, “Sir Hirini's legacy lives on in the institutions he helped build, which includes our Universityʻs marae, the cultural treasures he helped protect and restore, the scholarship he created, and the countless people whose lives were enriched by his wisdom, mentorship, and leadership. We had the great fortune that he could join us for the opening of Ngā Mokopuna and see the completion of a dream that he and others had started four decades beforehand.”

We acknowledge his family at this sad time.

E te pou o tō tātou whare, haere atu rā.

Read more: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/news/2026/06/te-herenga-waka-mourns-the-passing-of-professor-sir-hirini-moko-mead