The Otago Business School / Division of Commerce is committed to improving access, retention and course completion for students of Pacific descent in the programmes it offers.
The Commerce Pacific Student Support team was established to ensure that Pacific students enrolled within the School are supported to achieve academic success.
We also support the implementation of the goals, strategies and activities outlined in the University of Otago Pacific Strategic Framework 2022 - 2030 to be achieved within the School.
View the University of Otago Pacific Strategic Framework (PDF)
Our support services
- Academic guidance and support
- Essay and study skills
- Exam preparation
- Someone to talk to who understands Pacific cultural issues and concerns
- Liaising with departments, lecturers, and tutors
- Providing updates on upcoming news and events
- Community outreach programmes
- Student social engagements opportunities
- Information about Pacific resources
Our staff
Esmay Lemalu-Eteuati
Warm Pacific greetings, Talofa lava
Esmay Lemalu-Eteuati is of Samoan descent and has been employed at the Otago Business School since 2013, working part time. She is the Pacific Islands Academic Advisor based in the Dean's Office at the Otago Business School. She and her team provide support and pastoral care to all Pacific students studying in the Division of Commerce. Esmay looks after third-year undergraduate students and above.
Dean's Office, Ground Floor
Otago Business School
Tel +64 3 470 4756
Email esmay.eteuati@otago.ac.nz
Antonio Seiuli
Talofa lava
Antonio works part time in the Dean's Office, Otago Business School, Division of Commerce and with Startup Dunedin. Antonio is of Samoan descent and is also known by his Samoan chiefly titles of Masoe and/or Puipuifatu. His role at the Otago Business School is to co-ordinate and lead our Pacific Outreach Programmes, working closely and collaboratively with Pacific students, families and communities helping to strengthen community engagement with the Otago Business School. Antonio has previous experience in social work and as a social entrepreneur in Ōtepoti Dunedin. His previous work has been about using sustainable practices and capacity building.
Antonio is currently studying part time towards a Master of Professional Practice with the Otago Polytechnic.
Dean's Office, Otago Business School / Startup Dunedin
Division of Commerce
Tel +64 21 279 0732
Email antonio.seiuli@otago.ac.nz
Falaviena Faiva
Malo e lelei
Viena works part-time in the Dean's Office at the Otago Business School, Division of Commerce. She is of Tongan descent and is responsible for all first-year Pacific students in the Division.
Viena is a University of Otago Humanities and Commerce graduate and is currently completing a postgraduate Commerce degree in International Business.
Dean's Office, Otago Business School
Division of Commerce
Tel +64 21 279 0914
Email viena.faiva@otago.ac.nz
Other support and activities
Otago Pacific Islands Commerce Students’ Association (OPICSA)
Visit us on Facebook for updates and contact details
Departmental Pacific Liaison staff
Find your Departmental Pacific Liaison staff contact
Pacific at Otago
The Pacific Islands Centre can help you with academic assistance, scholarships and accommodation, legal and immigration matters – and more.
Visit the Pacific at Otago website
The Pacific Room
The OBS dedicated student space for all Commerce Pacific students only, Level 1, Room 1.04.
For access to the Pacific Room please email viena.faiva@otago.ac.nz
Indigenous Case Competition (ICC)
The national Māori and Pacific case competition was established in 2019 and has run intermittently since then as part of the Otago Consulting Club. In the past it has run between Auckland and Otago, and in 2025, between Otago and Victoria University, Wellington. In 2026, the competition will be the first three-way competition (Auckland, Otago, Victoria). Otago has won the competition twice.
The Māori and Pacific competition aims to foster entrepreneurship, build stronger networks with the business sector, and highlight indigenous thought leadership in a business context. It reflects the importance of indigenous perspectives in shaping the future of the New Zealand economy with, for example, the Māori economy estimated currently at over $126 billion and rising.
The Otago Consulting Club supports students to apply skills learned in the classroom to a wide range of industries and take a leadership role in solving real-world business challenges. The Club offers a case training programme to sharpen analytical, problem-solving, collaborative and presentation skills ‘tested’ in a range of competitions that simulate pressures and complexities faced by organisations.
For Māori and Pacific students, participating in the competition will enhance whanaungatanga and networks, extend students knowledge of how Māori and Pacific thinking can help solve business problems and expose students to the Māori and Pacific professional world.
