Media Design School is focused on growing the pathways and outcomes for our Māori and Pacific students and is active in the local community to ensure the success of those choosing to study with us, before, and during and after their time at our school.

We ensure a strong presence of Māori and Pacific culture in our organisation, teaching and learning, with a safe environment for work study and creativity, aspirations and events. Our Māori and Pacific Steering Committee consists of key staff members and elected Māori and Pacific Student Representatives to help inform MDS’s decisions with a cultural lens.


Mai te mapura mōhio, te mahi pai. Excellent work comes from a bright spark.

Support for Māori and Pasifika Students

Tangata Whenua - Māori 

 

The recognition and respect of Māori people and their customs are key to the way we run our school and we abide to law and policies, like Te Tiriti O Waitangi, and international agreements like the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Tangata Whenua - Māori

Tangata Pasifika

 

Talofa lava, malo e lelei, kia orana, bula vinaka and warm Pacific greetings! Pacific peoples and culture make up over 7% of the total population of New Zealand. MDS recognizes this through initiatives aimed to help Pacific students excel in creative tech careers, aiming to make such pathways more accessible, and accepted.

Tangata Pasifika

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.

Fale Māpura – Your Space

Māori & Pasifika Success Coach

Lita Vatuvei

Malo e lelei, Kia Ora, Ni sa bula and warm pacific greetings. As the Māori and Pasifika Success Coach, my role involves orchestrating initiatives aimed at aiding Māori and Pasifika students as they transition into tertiary education. Additionally, I provide ongoing support to ensure their success in both foundation and degree programs, with a secondary emphasis on assisting all students to thrive. This entails collaborating with campus services staff, faculty members, and external partners to craft and implement programs that foster equity, enhance student engagement, promote academic achievement, and facilitate personal growth. 

To contact Lita about student support, send an email.

Lita Tu'ilalotonga Vatuvei