Pasifika people and culture represent nearly 9% of New Zealand’s population, and at Media Design School at Strayer (MDS), we’re proud to reflect that diversity in our creative community.
We’re committed to supporting Pasifika students by developing meaningful initiatives that help them thrive in the world of creative technology. Through this ongoing work, we’re not only making this exciting, non-traditional career pathway more accessible - but also more widely recognised and embraced.
Our Students
Meet Damon, a Samoan student studying our Digital Creativity Foundation course here at MDS.
Fale Māpura – Your Space
Our Fale Māpura is a dedicated space on our campus designed specifically with Māori and Pacific cultural practices in mind and was blessed by Dr Haare Williams (Ngāi Tūhoe and Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki). All students and their families are welcome to use this special space to talanoa (discuss), interact and learn in a cultural affirming and safe environment.
Adding to the room’s special character is a beautiful Tongan Tapa which proudly hangs on the wall and was gifted to MDS by student Lita Vatuvei and her family.
Pasifika student projects
Ethan James Hiku - Future Pasifika
Our current times have been met with a lot of uncertainty and change in recent years, with advancements in technology, the world affected by climate change and Covid-19. This has inspired thoughts of what the future may be like. Times seem rough right now, does life get better? Worse? What does the future look like for me? My family? My people?
Leigh Punivalu - Umu : A Taste of the Islands.
I grew up in Samoa up until the age of fourteen and have had struggled with an eating disorder for a good majority of my life. Food has had a huge impact in my life for the longest time I can remember, with my favorite foods being the traditional delicacies from my home country, Samoa. Growing up in a very large interactive family, food has been a part of our way of life and always been involved in any milestone events. Both my peers and acquaintances have all gone through their fair share of love for Samoan food and it has impacted their life in both positive and negative ways.
Tāngata Māori + Pacific Peoples Matawhānui / Vision
Our Tāngata Māori + Pacific Peoples Matawhānui vision, established in 2020, set clear goals for our institution to reach an ideal future state. These goals are set out as three pillars focusing on the cultural connectedness of our institution, its learners, and its staff. It is the guiding document in our journey to an ideal cultural and inclusive state
