Māori and Pacific students in affirmative action program are more likely to graduate

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-08-29 00:01

New Zealand

Photo: University of Auckland

A new analysis shows that medical students in the University of Auckland’s Māori and Pacific Admissions Scheme (MAPAS) are passing their courses, advancing through their degrees and graduating at consistently higher rates than their peers in other faculties. From 2016 to 2023, MAPAS bachelor’s course pass rates, retention and graduation rates were 8–18 percentage points higher than equivalent UoA Māori and Pacific student averages. From 2020 to 2023, 232 MAPAS students graduated with a bachelor’s degree—at least 62 more than could be expected with standard support pathways.

Media release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

The University of Auckland’s Māori and Pacific Admissions Scheme (MAPAS), alongside other Vision 20:20 programmes, works to boost the number of Māori and Pacific health professionals in Aotearoa towards equitable workforce participation to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We need our doctors, nurses and other health professionals to reflect our communities, but long-standing barriers including systemic racism in education mean Māori and Pacific professionals are underrepresented in our health workforce. MAPAS and Vision 20:20 provide comprehensive support both academically and culturally to set students up for success in their health careers. Our rights-based research shows that MAPAS students are passing their courses, advancing through their degrees and graduating at consistently higher rates than Māori and Pacific students in other faculties. The success of MAPAS and Vision 20:20 supports ongoing and increased investment—for our students, our communities and the future of healthcare in Aotearoa.

Journal/
conference: NZMJ

Organisation/s: University of Auckland

Funder: Annie Borland’s work on this project was undertaken as part of a registrar placement that was supported by a training endowment from the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine.

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