First Pasifika woman promoted to pro vice-chancellor level at Auckland University

Saturday, 22 January 2022

Associate Professor Jemaima Tiatia is now Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific of the University of Auckland.

A co-head of the School of Māori and Pacific Studies, Associate Professor Jemaima Tiatia, has been promoted to Acting Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific at the University iof Auckland.

Tiatia, who as well as Pacific Studies has expertise in mental health and suicide prevention, is of Samoan descent and grew up in Avondale.

She is the first Pasifika woman to be appointed to pro vice-chancellor level at any New Zealand university, she said. Speaking to Stuff, she said that makes her appointment all the more powerful.

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“This does level the playing field. I think the university is showing the value of women in leadership,” she said.

“It was something I had aspired to. I say this to my students and my peers, that if you’re not there, we're not there. It seemed like a natural progression.”

Tiatia is also a commissioner on the inaugural Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.

University of Canterbury lecturer Steven Ratuva has been appointed as a Distinguished Professor. He is the first Pacific person ever to be promoted to the highest professorial status of Distinguished Professor.

She formerly co-headed Te Wānanga o Waipapa (School of Māori Studies and Pacific Studies) with professor Tracey McIntosh.

In her role, she will be a voice for the university’s Pasifika population and their educational needs.

Among her own priorities is ensuring Pacific students feel safe and included on campus and growing the Pacific academic workforce.

Toesulusulu Dr Damon Salesa is the new vice-chancellor of Auckland University of Technology (AUT).

Tiatia is currently supervising six Pacific Studies PhD candidates and four masters students.

“We’re in a great position, and my supervision workload is testimony to that. We’re seeing across all our tertiary institutions a lot of Pacific emerging scholars,” she said.

Where Covid-19 may have pulled Pasifika students out of study and into work to support their families, scholarships have meant more can stay in school, Tiatia said.

Tiatia said she began in December and will be in the role for up to six months while the formal recruitment process for the role takes place.

She will work alongside New Zealand-Niuean Rennie Atfield-Douglas, director of the South Auckland university campus (Te Papa Ako o Tai Tonga), as Assistant Pro Vice Chancellor Pacific.

“It’s a huge job, and I think two heads are much better than one. What’s really cool is we both identify with the rainbow community,” Tiatia said.

Tiatia is the second ever Pro Vice Chancellor Pacific. The first and now outgoing Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific was Professor Toelesulusulu Dr Damon Salesa, who was appointed in 2018.

He was recently announced as the next vice-chancellor at Auckland University of Technology – the first person of Pasifika heritage to take the role in any New Zealand university.

Salesa, also of Samoan descent, begins his tenure in March 2022.

Tiatia said the role’s introduction and continuation is a positive sign from the university.

“I think the University of Auckland has made a solid stand as to where Pacific are placed on their prioritising of educational matters.”