A Pacific health expert and academic wants to see more Pasifika students at Auckland University Medical School.
About two percent of the medical school roll is filled by Pasifika students, but the school's Associate Dean Pacific said, ideally, the number should be more reflective of the New Zealand population ratio of about 15 percent.
Colin Tukuitonga wants to get more information to possible candidates by the time they start high school.
Colin Tukuitonga Photo: Twitter
The number of Maori students had been on the rise recently and Dr Tukuitonga attributed this to the university's recruitment programme, Whakapiki Ake.
"Where trained individuals are in the schools and in the homes and in the communities sharing information about the requirements for medical school - what they need to do, study habits, where do they get the information.
"So it's a long process of support and information for students, for families and wider whānau."
Dr Tukuitonga said he hoped he could access funding for a similar group to Whakapiki Ake to focus on Pasifika students.
Dr Tuikuitonga hopes to have the medical profession promoted during university recruitment at high schools Photo: Pasifika Medical Association
