2021 Pasifika Orientation
With notice of the changing COVID-19 Alert Levels the night before Pasifika Orientation week, everyone played their part to create a welcoming and safe environment for our largest ever cohort of new Pasifika students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Fafaketai lahi lele, Fakaaue, Tangkyu, Malo ‘Aupito, Vinaka, Meitaki Maata, Tangkiu, Fa’afetai lava and Thank you to all our Pasifika staff and student ambassadors for helping us to deliver a very different, yet engaging Pasifika orientation.
With notice of the changing COVID-19 Alert Levels the night before Pasifika Orientation week, everyone played their part to create a welcoming and safe environment for our largest ever cohort of new Pasifika students at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Pasifika staff and student ambassadors worked together to run drop-in sessions at our Pasifika home base of AM102/104 on Tuesday and Wednesday - a place where students could interact and meet Pasifika Pillars from various student support services like Student Finance, Pasifika Student Success, the Library and Student Learning. Engagement was steady through the two days at alert level 2, incorporating health and safety measures.
On Thursday, as the alert levels changed again, we transformed our home base to an alert level 1 appropriate space and were able to welcome staff from StudyLink to run a drop-in space. Our response to the community was to provide and maintain a sense of belonging for our new students and make our presence known on campus.
We wrapped up the week with a wonderful cultural performance by the Pasifika students at the Welcome Festival. Our student ambassadors also led the interhall chant competition for WGTN Halls and were awarded first place. It was a great result and a highlight of the New Student Orientation week.
On Wednesday 24 February, we were fortunate to hold the welcome evening for our students and their families. This was a beautiful occasion to celebrate the transition of our new students and the start of their journey at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.