Welcome from Emma
The Asssistant Vice-Chancellor Pasifika, Emma Dunlop-Bennett, welcomes you to Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Aloha mai, Faka’alofa lahi atu, Fakatalofa atu, Gud de tru, Halo olgeta, Ia orana, Kam na mauri, Kaselehlie, Kia ora, Kia orana, Mālō e lelei, Ni sa bula Vinaka, and Talofa lava.
Welcome to Vaka Tangata Moana at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
As Assistant Vice-Chancellor Pasifika, it is my privilege to welcome you - our Pasifika students, our staff, and our communities - as partners to our malae. Te Herenga Waka speaks to a place where canoes come to anchor, where journeys meet, and futures are shaped. In this same spirit, Vaka Tangata Moana (the Office of the Assistant Vice-Chancellor Pasifika) is the canoe that brings our Pacific peoples together during our time here - whether we are studying, teaching, researching, or working in service to others.
For me, this work is deeply personal. I was raised in Samoa, on a malae called Matamoana - a name that translates to keeping our gaze lifted to the horizon. Just as I have been encouraged to keep my gaze lifted, so I encourage others: to look forward with intention, to stand firm in who we are, and to believe in the brilliance that unfolds when we journey together.
I firmly believe in the brilliance of our peoples. This brilliance is not new - it has always been there: enduring and proven across generations. Long before our ancestors reached Aotearoa some 800 years ago, they were expert navigators, innovators, scholars, and leaders of complex societies. In more recent waves of migration from the 1900s, our peoples came with dreams that were simple yet profound: that in making our place in Aotearoa, our peoples would thrive, lead, and be recognised for the knowledge and strength that we bring.
Vaka Tangata Moana is here to support your success while you are here at Te Herenga Waka. We are your aiga – who drawing on colleagues across the University - provide integrated, connected services for Pasifika students and staff. This nu‘u or village approach is grounded in relationships, collective responsibility, and shared success. Our work includes supporting Pasifika students to thrive academically and personally; supporting the success of Pasifika staff; and providing strategic leadership and guidance to strengthen teaching, learning, and research. Everything we do at Vaka Tangata Moana is centred on care, excellence, and the vision set out by our ancestors.
At Vaka Tangata Moana, the team and I are looking forward to being part of your journey. We are here to walk alongside you, to champion you every step of the way, and to celebrate your brilliance. As we know, our destiny is within sight when we paddle our canoe together - e vave tanu’u le malaga pe a tatou alo va’a fa’atasi.
I look forward to seeing you @ The Malae.
Welcome to Vaka Tangata Moana — our aiga, our home, our journey together.
Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennett
Assistant Vice-Chancellor Pasifika
Sā Petaia, Sā Te’o, Sā Atoā, and Ngāti Maniapoto