Making a difference in his community

Andrew Arona moved to Aotearoa New Zealand from Samoa with his fanau in 2009 - and has graduated from Unitec with a Bachelor of Nursing.

Andrew attributes his passion for nursing to his Christian values; he and other members of his church regularly donate food to the homeless, and this work got him thinking about how else he could serve his community.

Andrew initially studied Unitec’s Certificate in University Preparation before moving into the degree programme on a scholarship. “It was awesome that Unitec has services like Te Puna Ako and the Pacific Centre, which are dedicated to supporting Māori and Pacific students.”

For Andrew, one of the highlights of the programme was the interactions with his lecturers – “they were so approachable!”

He also found that cultural awareness was a massive part of the programme, and is instrumental in helping students understand different cultural needs and values.

Andrew and his cousin Taulaga (who also lectures at Unitec) run presentations at their local church on healthcare issues that are most relevant to the congregation: diabetes, gout and strokes. They also measure blood pressure, glucose (sugar) levels, weight, and check for other medical conditions.

“Respect is a massive part of Samoan culture, so it was hard, going in as someone young to tell these elders what to do.”

However, Andrew has found that having Unitec’s degree has made a big difference in his interactions, and he’s committed to growing preventative healthcare in his community.

Read more inspirational stories at unitec.ac.nz/our-stories