Chapter 7: Friends, Family (WHĀNAU), and Students: Their Perceptions of and Contributions to the Academic Experiences of Māori and Pacific Island (Pasifika) University Students in New Zealand

Studies on Māori and Pasifika tertiary students in Aotearoa⁴/New Zealand have explored the relationship between university policies, classroom pedagogy, and the academic experiences of these two student groups. Research has focussed on the pedagogical practices affecting these students in an attempt to understand why they have a disproportionate rate of early exits from tertiary institutions. Other studies have reviewed the student support programs offered at universities in terms of their effectiveness in improving the academic performance of Māori and Pasifika students. A variety of research methods have been used to investigate issues of retention and completion, students’ experiences in the classroom, classroom pedagogies, learning needs, barriers to success, and support for students. These research methods include both quantitative and qualitative approaches including meta analyzes, interviews, the use of questionnaires, students’ reflective journals and narrative studies (Bishop & Merryman, 2006; Nakhid, 2003; Tumen, Shulruf, & Hattie, 2008).