“Ever since primary school, I’ve always loved science,” says Abigail.
By high school that interest had grown, and Abigail was focusing on biology and chemistry, looking for a future in medicine. While researching pre-med pathways, she discovered biomedical science—a field that felt both interesting and underrepresented in her community.
“This is untapped territory,” says Abigail.
After chatting with her local health department and lab in her local hospital it became clear that this was something that was needed in her home country, and aligned with her passions.
Her studies opened her world to the wonders of biomedical sciences.
“If you unravel all the DNA that's in your body, it can stretch from the Earth to the Sun hundreds of times. That's how much information is stored in your body cells at any given time."
Abigail completed an internship with the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand (MRINZ) through Te Niwha in the summer of 2024–5.
“I got first-hand experience in the world of clinical research. It was eye-opening, and the team there were very lovely.”
MRINZ has been implementing a swabbing study across pharmacies to help identify which respiratory viruses are circulating in Aotearoa.
During her MRINZ internship, Abigail explored the feasibility of introducing that programme in the Pacific, searching through medical databases and online resources to audit the medical resources and facilities available there.
During her time at Te Herenga Waka, Abigail also got involved with the Melanesian Students Association and the Pasifika Student Council.
“My first foot into the student association's territory was with the African Diaspora Students Association, actually. I was treasurer for just a little bit, to kind of scope out that space,” says Abigail.
In 2023, Abigail became the Vice-President of the Melanesian Students Association, hoping to revive the association and push for better representation at the University.
“There’s not much Pasifika representation as it is, and when you scope it down to Melanesian representation, there’s even fewer of us. We wanted to just start it up, as a way to bring all of us together.”
Abigail later ran for and became President of the Melanesian Students Association, and Vice-President of the Pasifika Students Council.
“It was a great experience in leadership roles and learning how to juggle studies with my social life.
“I made a lot of long-lasting friendships, and it taught me people skills, leadership skills, time management, decision making, and critical thinking.”
Abigail also worked for UniCrew while studying, meeting international students at airport gates, and supporting them as they settled into life in the capital.
“It was a full circle moment for me. When I first arrived, I applied for the service. It was still the COVID era—so arriving was a hassle, but it really helped having someone there.
“I got to meet a lot of people from across the whole world, and that was pretty cool, especially for someone who's only really traveled around the Pacific.”
Reflecting on her Manaaki Scholarship, Abigail says she is grateful for the support provided.
“One thing I absolutely loved was the support that the scholarship provides—mentally, emotionally, financially, physically, and socially. They made sure that we were taken care of. We didn’t have to worry about what was provided, it was more than enough."
Abigail noted how regular meetings with her International Development Scholarships Student Adviser kept her grounded, appreciating how they encouraged her at times when she felt nervous about her studies.
“They served as a reminder of why I was there in the first place. And they were championing us through it all.
“When I was facing difficulties, having one of the advisers there with me really helped. I had no family in Wellington, so they were like my family here.”
The scholarship also covered travel expenses for Abigail to see her family during the holidays.
“It really helped being able to go back home and see them without worrying about finances.”
Now working at the national laboratory in her home country, Abigail is grateful for her experiences studying as a Manaaki Scholar.
“It means everything, not just to me, but to my family as well. It was something that I had been vying for since I was in high school. I'm the first in my generation on my mother's side of the family to get a degree, and the first in my village to finish with a degree in this field.
“As soon as I was done it was like a huge weight lifted. It felt really good accomplishing a goal that I had set years ago.”
Abigail finished her degree at the end of Trimester 1 2025 and is looking to explore postgraduate studies.