Many Pasifika students in Te Tari Kikokiko at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka face challenges while living in Ōtepoti and studying in our department. We conducted online talanoa with 24 Pasifika undergraduate students to gain feedback about their experiences. Students reported having challenges in living independently, culture shock, and academic struggles while living in Ōtepoti. Reasons for choosing our institution and studying anatomy were discussed. Students reported challenges in adapting to learning styles for anatomy, workload content, personal barriers, lack of culturally competent support, difficulties in essay writing, and tutorials (timing conflict, delivery method).

As a Samoan educator, I have frequently heard the claim that Pasifika students need to learn how to learn to succeed at university. As part of the He Vaka Moana Fellowship in 2018, I sought to explore this claim by conducting talanoa with 24 Pasifika students who had taken a Pacific Studies course at the University of Auckland. The talanoa focused on their thoughts about learning and learning processes inside and outside the university. This study demonstrates that Pasifika students know how to learn and frequently reflect on their learning processes.