Ara’s Pacific aiga (family) gathers for vibrant 2025 awards night

_{Pacific Supreme Award finalists and winner, left to right: Tausili Apisaloma Pulemau, Alicia Esera, Luke Buka, Mere Dimuri and Unaloto Artack}

The saying “When Pacific people lead, Pacific people succeed,” came to life at Ara Institute of Canterbury’s vibrant 2025 Pacific Achievement Awards, where success, pride, and culture were celebrated in full.

The annual event brought together Ara’s Pacific aiga (family) for an evening of song, laughter and recognition at the Aldersgate event centre on Thursday.

From 80 nominations, 32 individual awards were presented to learners excelling in fields ranging from accounting and nursing to art and design, broadcasting, construction management and midwifery.

Associate Director of Pacific Success, Sua Tauti, said the number of nominations reflected strengths across Ara’s Pacific community in many ways.

“Our Pacific learners feel a real sense of belonging here – Ara is somewhere they can proudly express their culture. It also shows the collaboration of our Ara kaimahi aiga working together to put forward as many nominations as possible.”

The Supreme Award went to Luke Buka, a Papua New Guinean learner in the Graduate Diploma in Laboratory Technology.

His nomination noted his exemplary academic record, as well as his impact far beyond the classroom, including chairing the Papua New Guinea community group in Christchurch.

Buka was instrumental in bringing the Papua New Guinea High Commissioner to Ara earlier this year, and his leadership has inspired others to develop new skills and to pursue a formal education.

Advocating for education in Buka's community starts at home.

“I have three children, and when my partner’s parents passed away, we became caregivers for her three younger siblings. My niece and nephew are also living with us and studying at Ara – and my wife is studying there too. Education, for our family and community, is really important to us.”

The Supreme Award winner said it was a tremendous honour to receive the award. “I really didn’t think I would get it. Some people have done and delivered more than I have, but I am very thankful to receive this prize.”

_{Supreme Award winner, Luke Buka}

Additional highlights included:

• Timaru Bachelor of Nursing student Melisha Kumar (Fijian) won the South Canterbury Award for 2025. A dedicated nursing student who balanced study with raising two young children, Kumar has excelled academically and supported peers as a tutor and mentor.
• Level 3 recipient Cherish Bullmore (Samoan; Cook Islands Māori) won Pacific Tradie of the Year. Bullmore completed her Certificate in Construction Trade Skills – Carpentry with excellence and is now thriving in an apprenticeship, while also pursuing her passion for performing arts.
• Level 4 Misiteni Mafi (Samoan) Bachelor of Social Work ākonga won the Pacific Academic Excellence Award. Mafi has shown consistent commitment to his studies and campus life, working toward his goal of becoming a social worker.

The awards capped off a year of significant progress for Ara’s Pacific community. The institute launched its Pacific Strategy 2025–2030 this year, a bold commitment to honour Pacific knowledge and ensure Pacific voices lead the way. Ara also opened its Pacific Hub at the City campus, designed to be a cultural home and a bridge connecting Ara with Pacific families, organisations and communities.

Ara Executive Director Darren Mitchell acknowledged that the achievements were shared, saying: “Tonight, we come together as one Pacific family to celebrate the courage, perseverance and commitment of our learners. You carry the hopes of your families and the aspirations of our communities. Your success is our collective success.”

Tauti echoed that sentiment: “As Pacific people, we never come alone to study - we carry our aiga, our village and everyone who has supported us. Sharing this experience with our loved ones means more than the award itself.”

Full list of award winners

Pacific Awards Level 2 recipients

• Sefulu Masunu Toluono (Ten) – Trades

Pacific Awards Level 3 recipients

• Soane Lilo Tahi – Trades
• Rodney Kewa – Trades
• Cherish Bullmore – Trades Pacific Trades Training – Pacific Tradie of the year

Pacific Awards Level 4 recipients

• Luci Palepoi – Applied Sciences and Social Practice
• Vanessa Faitaua – Applied Sciences and Social Practice
• Misiteni Mafi (Charlie) – Applied Sciences and Social Practice - Pacific Trades Training – Pacific Academic Excellence
• Karla Seuamuli – Applied Sciences and Social Practice
• Su’emalo Moa Jarrari – Applied Sciences and Social Practice

Pacific Awards Level 5-7 recipients

• Lydia Iosefo – Creative Arts and Digital Information
• Malaea Mcfadyen – Creative Arts and Digital Information
• Seamus Edwards – Creative Arts and Digital Information
• Toafa Moemoe Seiuli (Conrad) – Creative Arts and Digital Information
• Mere Dimuri – Engineering and Architectural Studies
• Adrian Narayan – Engineering and Architectural Studies
• D’Angelo Joseph Lino Siu Tauti (Lino) – Engineering and Architectural Studies
• Luke Buka – Applied Sciences and Social Practice
• Misiel Kalimet – Applied Sciences and Social Practice
• Samantha Tukuafu – Applied Sciences and Social Practice
• Janet Hooper – Applied Sciences and Social Practice
• Vaimosana Letiu (Sana) – Applied Sciences and Social Practice
• Alicia Boniface – Applied Sciences and Social Practice
• Reese Catherine Donald – Applied Sciences and Social Practice
• Kimberly Curry – Health Practice
• Atelaite Ledua – Health Practice
• Alicia Esera – Health Practice
• Merewalesi Rogasagasa (Mere) – Health Practice
• Melisha Kumar – Health Practice, Timaru Campus - South Canterbury Pacific Award
• Tausili Apisaloma Pulemau – Hospitality, Business and Service Industries
• Christina Hill – Hospitality, Business and Service Industries
• Unaloto Artack (Una) – Hospitality, Business and Service Industries

Pacific Island Students of Ara Executive

Unaloto Artack, Penina Vaaelua, Gladdys Toailoa, Leana Fry, Alicia Esera, Asena Tokalaulevu, Cashmere Chan Foung and Luisa Tausili.

Pacific Supreme Award finalists

• Alicia Esera - Bachelor of Nursing
• Luke Buka - Graduate Diploma in Laboratory Technology
• Mere Dimuri – New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying and Construction Management strands)
• Tausili Apisaloma Pulemau – New Zealand Diploma in Business (Leadership and Management)
• Unaloto Artack - Bachelor of Accounting

Supreme Award winner

• Luke Buka - Graduate Diploma in Laboratory Technology