Pacific Health Wayfinders

Find out more about our recruitment initiative targeting Pacific secondary school students who want to pursue a career in Medical and Health Sciences.

Pacific Health Wayfinders

The Pacific Health Wayfinders is an initiative by the Pacific Health Student Recruitment Team under the Office of the Associate Dean for Pacific led by Associate Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga. Established in November 2021, the aim of the Pacific Health Student Recruitment Team is to attract more Pacific students to pursue a career in health by studying a programme at the Faculty of Medical Health and Sciences after secondary school. To be a part of the Pacific Health Wayfinders programme, students have indigenous Pacific ancestry and be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident. 

The Pacific Health Wayfinders programme focuses on important elements such as subject selection, pathway planning and course counselling, and has a two-pronged approach. The first is a Pilot Schools Programme for Years 9 - Years 12. We will be working alongside eight selected Auckland secondary schools holding events in schools, in the community and at the University of Auckland Grafton campus.

The second is focussed on a Year 13 'Open Call'. We will recruit students who meet the programme eligibility criteria from any secondary school in Auckland up to a maximum of 50 students (eligibility criteria includes subject selection which meets the BHSc or BSc (Biomedical Sciences) entry requirements AND are interested in a career in health). The Pacific Health Student Recruitment team will facilitate the Year 13 handover to Maori and Pacific Admission Scheme (MAPAS) between December and February.