Latest news with #PacificIslanders
Straits Times
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Fiji look to soften up Wallabies before Lions series
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Pool C - Australia v Fiji - Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Etienne, France - September 17, 2023 Fiji's Albert Tuisue celebrates at the end of the match REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo MELBOURNE - All but forgotten in the hype of a British and Irish Lions tour, Fiji have gathered in a rain-soaked corner of eastern Australia to plot a confidence-killing defeat of Joe Schmidt's Wallabies. Fiji's Australian coach Mick Byrne has brought a strong squad for Sunday's test in Newcastle, the hosts' last warmup before the Lions' series-opener on July 19. The stakes are high for the Wallabies, who lost seven out of 13 tests last season and can ill-afford to stumble against opponents that stunned them at the 2023 World Cup. However, the season-opener is also important for the Pacific Islanders, who insist they now rank among the elite "Tier One" nations that once ignored them between World Cups. Times have changed. Since humbling the Wallabies 22-15 in Saint-Etienne at the World Cup in France, a defeat ranked among Australia's darkest days in rugby, Fiji have had no shortage of top tier competition. Scotland, Wales and Ireland all hosted them last autumn, while New Zealand played them in the United States. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 3 out of 4 in Singapore cannot identify deepfake content: Cyber Security Agency survey Singapore Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty Singapore New $7.5m fund to encourage social service agencies to track impact of their programmes Singapore GrabCab, Singapore's newest taxi operator, hits the roads with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July Life Star Awards 2025: Xiang Yun and Chen Hanwei are the most decorated actors in show's 30-year history World Paramount settles with Trump over '60 Minutes' Harris interview for $20 million Asia Dalai Lama says he will have successor after his death Business Cathay Cineplexes gets demand for $3.4 million in arrears from Jem landlord Fiji will face Scotland at home a week after taking on the Wallabies, with glamour matches to come in November against England, at Twickenham, and France. Byrne, who took over from Simon Raiwalui after the World Cup, will want concrete gains in his second season in charge ahead of the inaugural Nations Championship next year, which Fiji are expected to be a part of. While dominating Japan and other Pacific rivals, Fiji's sole win against the top tier sides last season was a 24-19 win against struggling Wales in Cardiff. Fiji's thrilling running game has otherwise been no match for the big dogs' forward power and set-piece discipline. Not that Fiji will ditch their natural style, said Byrne. "We need to grow our game. We need to continue to grow without losing what our players do naturally," he told reporters on Tuesday. "Sixty-percent of the game is played quite clinically and 40% of the game is played quite open. "When it comes to the 40%, we're some of the best players in the world when the game opens up through turnovers and kick-returns, etc. "The other 60% of the game, we're working really hard in maintaining good, strong discipline. "There's a lot of people talk about whether we're going to lose our Fijian way. We never lose our Fijian way." If anything, the bonds are only growing stronger due to Fijian Drua, the nation's first professional team who just completed their fourth season in Super Rugby with Australian and New Zealand opponents. More than a third of Byrne's 32-man squad are Drua players, making integration and combination-building easier. Australia's squad includes only one overseas-based player in lock Will Skelton, and the hosts have had more time to prepare than the Fijians, whose last win in Australia was in 1954. The Wallabies reviewed footage of the Saint-Etienne debacle as part of their preparations for Sunday. Both teams have moved on since then with different coaches but the Fijians believe they can produce a sequel to the Wallabies' World Cup horror show. "I told the boys, we've done it once, so surely we can do it again," said loose forward Bill Mata. "To get a win over Australia, in Australia, that'd be a message for the whole team." REUTERS
France 24
04-06-2025
- General
- France 24
Ex-Fiji captain Nayacalevu has 'no regrets' over Test retirement
Centre Nayacalevu played the last of his 43 Tests in November's loss to Ireland having skippered the Pacific Islanders for the first time in 2021. The 34-year-old has joined Nice for next season, after their relegation to the French third-tier. "Today is not a goodbye to rugby. It's just the end of one chapter," Nayacalevu said on Instagram. "I look forward to giving back —- whether it's mentoring the next generation, supporting our grassroots programs, or simply being a proud fan in the stands. "I retire with no regrets, only gratitude — for every try scored, every challenge faced, and every anthem sung. "This jersey may leave my shoulders, but it will never leave my heart," he added.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
England set to face Fiji, South Africa and Argentina in inaugural Nations Championship matches
England are set to begin their inaugural Nations Championship campaign in just over a year's time by playing Fiji – potentially in Europe – as well as away matches against the back-to-back world champions South Africa and Argentina, the Guardian understands. The 12-team competition, which will be held every two years and replaces traditional tours, is set to break new ground next year in the northern hemisphere summer and while the fixture list is yet to be announced, the Guardian has learned current proposals put England in line to face the Springboks in South Africa for the first time since 2018. A return to Argentina – where Steve Borthwick's side will face two Tests this summer – is also on the cards. Advertisement Related: Qatar Airways agrees £80m sponsorship deal for rugby union's Nations Championship As per tournament protocols, England's proposed match with Fiji would take place in either South Africa or Argentina but it is understood the Pacific Islanders would want the fixture to take place in Europe, mostly likely France where a substantial portion of their squad is based. Should that materialise, it is expected England would play Fiji first before travelling to South Africa and Argentina. The format of the competition sees the 12 teams split into two conferences - the Six Nations in one and the four Sanzaar countries and two others, expected to be Japan and Fiji, in another. The Sanzaar conference is effectively split into two blocks and the lowest ranked team in each play on neutral territory in an effort to minimise travel. Rather than play in either South Africa or Argentina, however, Fiji are hoping to host England in France while Twickenham has also been mooted as a possible venue. The Six Nations conference is also split into two blocks so two other nations are set to have the same fixtures as England next summer while the other three would face Australia, Japan and New Zealand. The Six Nations countries then host the three nations they have not yet played the following autumn, meaning England would welcome Australia, Japan and New Zealand to Twickenham in the autumn of 2026. Results from summer and autumn matches contributing to a final ranking. Advertisement On finals weekend, the top teams in each conference will meet each other, with second playing second, and so on, to determine the final rankings. The first grand final is set to be held at Twickenham while other stadiums in London are expected to be used for some of the other ranking matches. Previously the autumn Test window officially only allowed for nations to have access to their players for three weeks so as a trade-off, next year's Six Nations will be truncated to six weeks with one of the rest weeks removed. The Nations Championship is set to take place every two years, avoiding a clash with British & Irish Lions tours as well as the World Cup. The 2028 finals weekend is set to be held in the Middle East and the United States is the frontrunner to stage the 2030 edition, a year before hosting the World Cup. The Nations Championship will be run by the Six Nations and Sanzaar with World Rugby overseeing a tier two competition. Promotion to tier one is not due to happen until 2032 at the earliest, however. Negotiations over a lucrative broadcast deal that would encompass both summer and autumn fixtures are said to be at an advanced stage with TNT Sports considered the frontrunners after a successful first autumn campaign last year.
Scoop
31-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Milestone Moments: Profiling Pasifika Graduates
Article – RNZ For many Pacific Islanders, academic graduations are momentous familial moments. , RNZ Pacific multimedia journalist For many Pacific Islanders, academic graduations are momentous familial moments. Whether it's a high school, or university graduation, you'll often see entire families – mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles, grandparents, siblings and cousins – gathering in full force to celebrate, and in classic Pacific fashion; with pride, leis, and traditional dress. In recent years, universities have seen more Māori and Pacific students not only graduating, but thriving at exceptional levels. RNZ Pacific spoke with a group of recent graduates who shared insights into their academic journeys: the challenges, highlights and hopes for the future. Tina Vao 'In 2023, I lost my 10-year-old son and, shortly after, my mother. Their deaths broke me. I lost the will to study and nearly gave up completely. But even in those dark moments, I remembered why I started this journey.' For Tongan-born mother of six, Tina Vao, the path to graduation has been steeped in unimaginable grief, resilience, and faith. In early 2024, following the loss of both her son and mother, Vao was involved in a life-threatening car crash. Despite it all, Vao crossed the stage this year, graduating from Massey University with a Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours. 'I've always wanted my education to uplift others, not just myself,' she said. With the support of her whānau, her culture, and her faith, Vao said her graduation was more than just a celebration of academic achievement – it also helped her heal. 'It wasn't just about receiving a degree; it was about everything I had overcome to get there,' Vao said. 'My whānau were there in spirit, especially my late son and mother. My other children were there in person, and seeing them watch me graduate meant everything. 'This degree is a testimony of God's faithfulness, of resilience, and of the sacrifices made by my family for me to succeed.' Looking ahead, her focus remains on service. If she secures a scholarship, Vao hopes to return to Massey next year to begin postgraduate study, with an emphasis on food safety and nutrition for vulnerable populations, especially in the Pacific. Long-term, she wants to bridge science with real-world community needs. 'Perhaps even developing culturally safe food solutions, or leading education programmes in the Pacific region,' Vao said. Her experiences of hardship, healing, and perseverance have shaped the message she hopes to share with others. 'I want Pasifika, especially mothers, caregivers, and those facing hardship, to know that their dreams are valid. 'Our voices are needed in spaces like science, food innovation, and healthcare. Your background isn't a barrier – it's your superpower. 'Ask for help when you need it. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. And most of all, remember why you started. 'For me, my 'why' was my children, and it kept me going through everything. You have something special to offer the world. Education can open doors, but your courage is what walks you through them.' Arama Tairea 'I seriously decided, what can I do with my life? I can finish my degree. I went back to finish that off, and six years later, I've picked up three degrees.' Arama Tairea has graduated with a Masters of Arts in religious studies. Tairea, who is Cook Island Māori, did not follow a conventional academic journey. 'I never got Level 2 in high school. My mum said I could drop out and work, or finish,' he said. 'So I finished, and didn't really know what to do with my life. I worked as a forklift driver, but a year later, I knew I wanted to do something else. So I went to uni.' While Tairea enrolled, his initial stint was short-lived. 'I wasn't as mature as I needed to be,' he said. 'After two years, I just felt like it wasn't working. So I left.' For the next decade, Tairea spent time between different jobs. In 2019, he was over it. 'I seriously decided, what can I do with my life? Well, I could finish my degree. I went back to finish that off, and six years later, I've picked up three degrees,' Tairea said. But the road wasn't easy. Tairea questioned whether he was making the right move. 'I looked at where all my friends were in life. I was older. Should I be going back?' he said. 'But I thought, I've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain.' His undergrad included philosophy and religious studies. 'I wasn't brought up religious in the traditional sense,' he said. 'I always had this curiosity about why religion holds such a place in our culture, and why does that seem to be shifting?' Tairea's thesis looked at the evolving relationship between Cook Islands Māori identity and Christianity in Aotearoa. He spoke to people across the country, in their early 20s to their 70s, and asked them what religion meant to them, and how it intersected with culture. 'Traditionally, the church supported our culture. But as more of us move away from the church, it raises questions about culture,' he said. His research also became a personal journey. 'My master's was a journey of self-discovery. It helped me make sense of my own upbringing, of where I sit within my culture and faith.' Tairea regretted not taking Pacific studies earlier on in his academic career; however he remedied this during his honours year. 'I thought, being a Pacific person, I knew everything, but I didn't. There was so much more to learn.' While a PhD is on the horizon, for now, Tairea is focused on other goals. He's working in research ethics and is passionate about creating spaces where Pacific voices are heard and valued, particularly within academic and institutional settings. 'I think about my nieces and nephews, coming to the end of high school, figuring out what to do. If I can show them that there's no one right way to succeed, that our journeys can be messy and still matter, that's enough.' Tairea encouraged all Pasifika to find their passion and 'go hard'. 'I think my biggest mistake the first time was not asking for help. But that help is out there now, more than ever,' Tairea said. Josephine Ripley 'Don't make yourself whiter; make the room browner.' 'Don't make yourself whiter; make the room browner.' That was the advice from a prominent Pasifika judge that has stuck with Josephine Ripley; a call to resist assimilation and instead make room for representation. It's fitting, then, that Ripley, driven by justice from a young age, recently graduated from the University of Otago with first class honours in law and a Bachelor of Arts in Pacific Island studies. 'It was one of the best weekends of my life. I felt overwhelmed by the significance of it,' she said. 'The moment was as much my family's as it was my own.' Now a law clerk at Buddle Findlay, a leading firm in Aotearoa, Ripley comes from a family of advocates. 'My parents have always role-modelled empathy, kindness, humility and honesty,' she said. 'I always had a strong awareness of how not everyone has the same chances in life, and injustices always bothered me. 'We don't all start on a level playing field, and being compassionate and empathetic is a key driver in understanding other people's issues and problems.' Her grandfather, a lawyer who dedicated nearly 70 years to serving his community, was a powerful example of what compassionate, community-focused law could look like. 'My grandfather was an amazing lawyer, who worked to give free advice to those who needed it, with integrity and kindness.' Alongside law, Otago's Pacific Island studies course gave Ripley a deeper connection to her culture. 'As a product of the Pacific diaspora, I wanted to learn more about my culture, and the beautiful Pacific region,' she said. Perhaps the most transformative part of university was finding community through PILSA (Pacific Islands Law Students' Association), and UOPISA (University of Otago Pacific Islands Law Students' Association), where she was deputy president. 'Being a part of these associations completely changed my experience as a Pacific student at Otago. 'I was nurtured and supported by them as a first and second year, and then able to give back as a senior student. It's so important to create safe spaces for Pacific students to really thrive.' A milestone in her academic journey was completing her dissertation, supervised by academic Jacinta Ruru and second-marked by Metiria Turei. 'I really admire both of these wāhine toa and the work they do, so it was a real privilege to be able to work with them.' Her dissertation, titled 'Tangata Moana for Tino Rangatiratanga', explores how Pacific peoples can support Māori aspirations for constitutional transformation. Looking ahead, Ripley hopes to complete her professional legal studies and be admitted to the bar by the end of 2025. Further study is also on the horizon. 'Long term I would definitely consider doing further postgraduate study. I'd love to do a master's in Pacific studies and I'm also really passionate about creative writing and it's something I want to pursue seriously.' Her passion for law remains focused on constitutional change and social justice. 'My dissertation really sparked a passion for me in terms of constitutional change in Aotearoa, so I'd love to do more work in this space too.' Saki Baleivanualala 'I want to inspire Pacific community members to pursue education…and contribute to their communities.' Saki Baleivanualala has graduated with a doctorate in philosophy in microbiology from the University of Otago. Leaving behind the warmth of his tropical homeland, Baleivanualala found himself facing an entirely different challenge when he moved to Dunedin. Not academic rigor, necessarily, but a colder climate. 'I mean, I left Fiji, a very tropical island, and came to Dunedin, a very cold place. So that was hard,' Baleivanualala laughed. Despite the climate challenge, Baleivanualala arrived in Dunedin with a mission: to tackle a pressing health issue affecting the Fjiian region, antibiotic resistance. He has firsthand experience with superbugs and was concerned by what he saw. 'I've worked in various hospitals in Fjii, and saw lots of people being affected by antibiotic resistance, which is a growing thing there. That's why I wanted to continue my research on what the main problem is. 'Why is it so common? Why is it so popular in Fiji? I suspect it is throughout other Pacific island countries as well. That's why I wanted to pursue this study.' With a strong foundation in medicine from Fiji National University and a master's degree in infectious diseases from Australia, his PhD in microbiology at the University of Otago was driven by an ongoing commitment to all Pacific communities. 'We have seen that the Pacific community have been this proportionally affected in terms of health status. I want to bring down that curve. So, if we stop this in the islands, we are saving the Pacific community here in New Zealand as well,' Baleivanualala said. His PhD journey resulted in a major academic milestone: the publication of three peer-reviewed papers directly from his thesis, and an additional paper on mycobacterium tuberculosis. 'That was a huge achievement for me, coming from a small island and having my first academic paper published, then more as I studied. It took a lot of time to research, and figure things out.' Baleivanualala said that certain aspects of the work, like DNA analysis and bioinformatics, were particularly challenging due to their novelty. Support from his supervisors and the University of Otago made it manageable. 'The university environment here is very supportive, not just academically, but also the wider Dunedin community. After a few months, I realised it wasn't so lonely being away from home.' Graduation was an emotional occasion for Baleivanualala, who was joined by his wife and celebrated by the local Fijian community and church groups in Dunedin. 'My wife has always been so supportive of me, all throughout my academic career. The Fijian community here, they've been so supportive, too. Everybody hosted me after the graduation – we had a huge party.' Most importantly, Baleivanualala wanted people to know that this milestone was about giving back. 'I told everyone that this degree isn't just mine, it's for them – for the communities that supported me, and for the people I'm researching for.' Baleivanualala is now training others in Fiji to build local capacity and help set up a genome sequencing facility in Fjii, which he said is critical for early disease detection and prevention in the Pacific. 'If we can detect antibiotic resistance or emerging diseases early in Fiji, we can protect the entire Pacific community and even countries beyond,' he said. Baleivanualala said his message for others is clear. Pursue education and uplift your community. 'I hope my journey inspires others, young and older people, that education can happen at any stage. It doesn't stop – and how we use it, makes such a difference.' Mauatua Fa'ara-Reynolds 'I focused a lot on tapa; how it binds communities, keeps us safe, preserves stories, and as a form of healing.' From Ra'iatea to Norfolk Island, from rural Australia to Pōneke, Mauatua Fa'ara-Reynolds journeyed across oceans before landing at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. A proud Tahitian and Norfolk Islander, Fa'ara-Reynolds has completed her Bachelor of Arts in Pacific Studies and Cultural Anthropology, where she now plans to pursue a master's in creative writing. Prior to Pōneke, Fa'ara-Reynolds was living in a small, rural Australian town of 1,000 people. There was one Fijian student at her school; otherwise, Pasifika were hard to come by. By the time university came around, Fa'ara-Reynolds was 'over the small-town Australian life'. 'I was in dire need of connection and community,' she said. 'I wasn't ready to go back to Tahiti, but Wellington felt like a step towards home. When I arrived in Wellington, there was a natural homeliness. I just knew I was in the right place.' During her time at university, Fa'ara Reynolds has been a force, stepping into an accumulation of roles as a Pacific studies tutor, researcher, and writer. She wrote for the student magazine, Salient, which included a celebrated piece about Pacific studies. While on that topic, she rejected the notion of Pacific studies being a 'useless' arts subject. 'It's helped me find my place in this world, and was a guiding light for other students, too,' she said. Fa'ara-Reynolds added that her mother, Pacific academic Dr Pauline Reynolds, continues to be a source of inspiration. 'A lot of mum's mahi was around reclaiming and rewriting the history of our tupuna wāhine, rewriting the story of the bounty, the story of Norfolk Islands – so we always had discussions on decolonisation. It was a really present thing in our home,' she said. 'Mum also makes tapa, so I grew up making tapa, too.' In her last two years of study, Fa'ara Reynolds honed in on her knowledge. 'I focused how tapa binds communities, keeps us safe, preserves stories, and as a form of healing. I also focused on the impacts of colonialism and nuclear testing,' Fa'ara-Reynolds said. She now has many lessons under her belt following university. 'Have faith. I have this blind faith in my ancestors and gods, that if they could endure what they did, I can endure this journey. I guess university reinforced that – the power in these stories. 'Sometimes, I think it's easy to forget that – especially in very white settings – but in contrast to that, us Pacific people are so valuable in university settings… so there must be more. More of our stories, our lineage, our knowledge. We contribute so powerfully.'
Scoop
31-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Milestone Moments: Profiling Pasifika Graduates
Coco Lance, RNZ Pacific multimedia journalist For many Pacific Islanders, academic graduations are momentous familial moments. Whether it's a high school, or university graduation, you'll often see entire families - mothers, fathers, aunties, uncles, grandparents, siblings and cousins - gathering in full force to celebrate, and in classic Pacific fashion; with pride, leis, and traditional dress. In recent years, universities have seen more Māori and Pacific students not only graduating, but thriving at exceptional levels. RNZ Pacific spoke with a group of recent graduates who shared insights into their academic journeys: the challenges, highlights and hopes for the future. Tina Vao "In 2023, I lost my 10-year-old son and, shortly after, my mother. Their deaths broke me. I lost the will to study and nearly gave up completely. But even in those dark moments, I remembered why I started this journey." For Tongan-born mother of six, Tina Vao, the path to graduation has been steeped in unimaginable grief, resilience, and faith. In early 2024, following the loss of both her son and mother, Vao was involved in a life-threatening car crash. Despite it all, Vao crossed the stage this year, graduating from Massey University with a Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours. "I've always wanted my education to uplift others, not just myself," she said. With the support of her whānau, her culture, and her faith, Vao said her graduation was more than just a celebration of academic achievement - it also helped her heal. "It wasn't just about receiving a degree; it was about everything I had overcome to get there," Vao said. "My whānau were there in spirit, especially my late son and mother. My other children were there in person, and seeing them watch me graduate meant everything. "This degree is a testimony of God's faithfulness, of resilience, and of the sacrifices made by my family for me to succeed." Looking ahead, her focus remains on service. If she secures a scholarship, Vao hopes to return to Massey next year to begin postgraduate study, with an emphasis on food safety and nutrition for vulnerable populations, especially in the Pacific. Long-term, she wants to bridge science with real-world community needs. "Perhaps even developing culturally safe food solutions, or leading education programmes in the Pacific region," Vao said. Her experiences of hardship, healing, and perseverance have shaped the message she hopes to share with others. "I want Pasifika, especially mothers, caregivers, and those facing hardship, to know that their dreams are valid. "Our voices are needed in spaces like science, food innovation, and healthcare. Your background isn't a barrier - it's your superpower. "Ask for help when you need it. Surround yourself with people who believe in you. And most of all, remember why you started. "For me, my 'why' was my children, and it kept me going through everything. You have something special to offer the world. Education can open doors, but your courage is what walks you through them." Arama Tairea "I seriously decided, what can I do with my life? I can finish my degree. I went back to finish that off, and six years later, I've picked up three degrees." Arama Tairea has graduated with a Masters of Arts in religious studies. Tairea, who is Cook Island Māori, did not follow a conventional academic journey. "I never got Level 2 in high school. My mum said I could drop out and work, or finish," he said. "So I finished, and didn't really know what to do with my life. I worked as a forklift driver, but a year later, I knew I wanted to do something else. So I went to uni." While Tairea enrolled, his initial stint was short-lived. "I wasn't as mature as I needed to be," he said. "After two years, I just felt like it wasn't working. So I left." For the next decade, Tairea spent time between different jobs. In 2019, he was over it. "I seriously decided, what can I do with my life? Well, I could finish my degree. I went back to finish that off, and six years later, I've picked up three degrees," Tairea said. But the road wasn't easy. Tairea questioned whether he was making the right move. "I looked at where all my friends were in life. I was older. Should I be going back?" he said. "But I thought, I've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain." His undergrad included philosophy and religious studies. "I wasn't brought up religious in the traditional sense," he said. "I always had this curiosity about why religion holds such a place in our culture, and why does that seem to be shifting?" Tairea's thesis looked at the evolving relationship between Cook Islands Māori identity and Christianity in Aotearoa. He spoke to people across the country, in their early 20s to their 70s, and asked them what religion meant to them, and how it intersected with culture. "Traditionally, the church supported our culture. But as more of us move away from the church, it raises questions about culture," he said. His research also became a personal journey. "My master's was a journey of self-discovery. It helped me make sense of my own upbringing, of where I sit within my culture and faith." Tairea regretted not taking Pacific studies earlier on in his academic career; however he remedied this during his honours year. "I thought, being a Pacific person, I knew everything, but I didn't. There was so much more to learn." While a PhD is on the horizon, for now, Tairea is focused on other goals. He's working in research ethics and is passionate about creating spaces where Pacific voices are heard and valued, particularly within academic and institutional settings. "I think about my nieces and nephews, coming to the end of high school, figuring out what to do. If I can show them that there's no one right way to succeed, that our journeys can be messy and still matter, that's enough." Tairea encouraged all Pasifika to find their passion and "go hard". "I think my biggest mistake the first time was not asking for help. But that help is out there now, more than ever," Tairea said. Josephine Ripley "Don't make yourself whiter; make the room browner." "Don't make yourself whiter; make the room browner." That was the advice from a prominent Pasifika judge that has stuck with Josephine Ripley; a call to resist assimilation and instead make room for representation. It's fitting, then, that Ripley, driven by justice from a young age, recently graduated from the University of Otago with first class honours in law and a Bachelor of Arts in Pacific Island studies. "It was one of the best weekends of my life. I felt overwhelmed by the significance of it," she said. "The moment was as much my family's as it was my own." Now a law clerk at Buddle Findlay, a leading firm in Aotearoa, Ripley comes from a family of advocates. "My parents have always role-modelled empathy, kindness, humility and honesty," she said. "I always had a strong awareness of how not everyone has the same chances in life, and injustices always bothered me. "We don't all start on a level playing field, and being compassionate and empathetic is a key driver in understanding other people's issues and problems." Her grandfather, a lawyer who dedicated nearly 70 years to serving his community, was a powerful example of what compassionate, community-focused law could look like. "My grandfather was an amazing lawyer, who worked to give free advice to those who needed it, with integrity and kindness." Alongside law, Otago's Pacific Island studies course gave Ripley a deeper connection to her culture. "As a product of the Pacific diaspora, I wanted to learn more about my culture, and the beautiful Pacific region," she said. Perhaps the most transformative part of university was finding community through PILSA (Pacific Islands Law Students' Association), and UOPISA (University of Otago Pacific Islands Law Students' Association), where she was deputy president. "Being a part of these associations completely changed my experience as a Pacific student at Otago. "I was nurtured and supported by them as a first and second year, and then able to give back as a senior student. It's so important to create safe spaces for Pacific students to really thrive." A milestone in her academic journey was completing her dissertation, supervised by academic Jacinta Ruru and second-marked by Metiria Turei. "I really admire both of these wāhine toa and the work they do, so it was a real privilege to be able to work with them." Her dissertation, titled 'Tangata Moana for Tino Rangatiratanga', explores how Pacific peoples can support Māori aspirations for constitutional transformation. Looking ahead, Ripley hopes to complete her professional legal studies and be admitted to the bar by the end of 2025. Further study is also on the horizon. "Long term I would definitely consider doing further postgraduate study. I'd love to do a master's in Pacific studies and I'm also really passionate about creative writing and it's something I want to pursue seriously." Her passion for law remains focused on constitutional change and social justice. "My dissertation really sparked a passion for me in terms of constitutional change in Aotearoa, so I'd love to do more work in this space too." Saki Baleivanualala "I want to inspire Pacific community members to pursue contribute to their communities." Saki Baleivanualala has graduated with a doctorate in philosophy in microbiology from the University of Otago. Leaving behind the warmth of his tropical homeland, Baleivanualala found himself facing an entirely different challenge when he moved to Dunedin. Not academic rigor, necessarily, but a colder climate. "I mean, I left Fiji, a very tropical island, and came to Dunedin, a very cold place. So that was hard," Baleivanualala laughed. Despite the climate challenge, Baleivanualala arrived in Dunedin with a mission: to tackle a pressing health issue affecting the Fjiian region, antibiotic resistance. He has firsthand experience with superbugs and was concerned by what he saw. "I've worked in various hospitals in Fjii, and saw lots of people being affected by antibiotic resistance, which is a growing thing there. That's why I wanted to continue my research on what the main problem is. "Why is it so common? Why is it so popular in Fiji? I suspect it is throughout other Pacific island countries as well. That's why I wanted to pursue this study." With a strong foundation in medicine from Fiji National University and a master's degree in infectious diseases from Australia, his PhD in microbiology at the University of Otago was driven by an ongoing commitment to all Pacific communities. "We have seen that the Pacific community have been this proportionally affected in terms of health status. I want to bring down that curve. So, if we stop this in the islands, we are saving the Pacific community here in New Zealand as well," Baleivanualala said. His PhD journey resulted in a major academic milestone: the publication of three peer-reviewed papers directly from his thesis, and an additional paper on mycobacterium tuberculosis. "That was a huge achievement for me, coming from a small island and having my first academic paper published, then more as I studied. It took a lot of time to research, and figure things out." Baleivanualala said that certain aspects of the work, like DNA analysis and bioinformatics, were particularly challenging due to their novelty. Support from his supervisors and the University of Otago made it manageable. "The university environment here is very supportive, not just academically, but also the wider Dunedin community. After a few months, I realised it wasn't so lonely being away from home." Graduation was an emotional occasion for Baleivanualala, who was joined by his wife and celebrated by the local Fijian community and church groups in Dunedin. "My wife has always been so supportive of me, all throughout my academic career. The Fijian community here, they've been so supportive, too. Everybody hosted me after the graduation - we had a huge party." Most importantly, Baleivanualala wanted people to know that this milestone was about giving back. "I told everyone that this degree isn't just mine, it's for them - for the communities that supported me, and for the people I'm researching for." Baleivanualala is now training others in Fiji to build local capacity and help set up a genome sequencing facility in Fjii, which he said is critical for early disease detection and prevention in the Pacific. "If we can detect antibiotic resistance or emerging diseases early in Fiji, we can protect the entire Pacific community and even countries beyond," he said. Baleivanualala said his message for others is clear. Pursue education and uplift your community. "I hope my journey inspires others, young and older people, that education can happen at any stage. It doesn't stop - and how we use it, makes such a difference." Mauatua Fa'ara-Reynolds "I focused a lot on tapa; how it binds communities, keeps us safe, preserves stories, and as a form of healing." From Ra'iatea to Norfolk Island, from rural Australia to Pōneke, Mauatua Fa'ara-Reynolds journeyed across oceans before landing at Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington. A proud Tahitian and Norfolk Islander, Fa'ara-Reynolds has completed her Bachelor of Arts in Pacific Studies and Cultural Anthropology, where she now plans to pursue a master's in creative writing. Prior to Pōneke, Fa'ara-Reynolds was living in a small, rural Australian town of 1,000 people. There was one Fijian student at her school; otherwise, Pasifika were hard to come by. By the time university came around, Fa'ara-Reynolds was "over the small-town Australian life". "I was in dire need of connection and community," she said. "I wasn't ready to go back to Tahiti, but Wellington felt like a step towards home. When I arrived in Wellington, there was a natural homeliness. I just knew I was in the right place." During her time at university, Fa'ara Reynolds has been a force, stepping into an accumulation of roles as a Pacific studies tutor, researcher, and writer. She wrote for the student magazine, Salient, which included a celebrated piece about Pacific studies. While on that topic, she rejected the notion of Pacific studies being a 'useless' arts subject. "It's helped me find my place in this world, and was a guiding light for other students, too," she said. Fa'ara-Reynolds added that her mother, Pacific academic Dr Pauline Reynolds, continues to be a source of inspiration. "A lot of mum's mahi was around reclaiming and rewriting the history of our tupuna wāhine, rewriting the story of the bounty, the story of Norfolk Islands - so we always had discussions on decolonisation. It was a really present thing in our home," she said. "Mum also makes tapa, so I grew up making tapa, too." In her last two years of study, Fa'ara Reynolds honed in on her knowledge. "I focused how tapa binds communities, keeps us safe, preserves stories, and as a form of healing. I also focused on the impacts of colonialism and nuclear testing," Fa'ara-Reynolds said. She now has many lessons under her belt following university. "Have faith. I have this blind faith in my ancestors and gods, that if they could endure what they did, I can endure this journey. I guess university reinforced that - the power in these stories. "Sometimes, I think it's easy to forget that - especially in very white settings - but in contrast to that, us Pacific people are so valuable in university settings... so there must be more. More of our stories, our lineage, our knowledge. We contribute so powerfully."
