Pacific graduates recently came together in Auckland for Careerforce’s Pacific Celebration of Success – a special event recognising the achievements of 50 Pacific learners who had recently completed their NZQA recognised qualifications.
Hosted by Careerforce, a national work-based learning provider for the health and wellbeing sectors, the evening celebrated graduates from across the Northern region, who had completed programmes ranging from Level 2 certificates through to Level 5 diplomas.
Graduates represented Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Fiji, the Cook Islands and Tokelau. In a beautiful show of unity, the event also recognised a graduate from South Korea, who was inspired by the spirit of the celebration and requested to join her Pacific colleagues for this special occasion.
Careerforce executive director, Rod Bentham, commended the graduates for working tirelessly, showing resilience, and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to their education and training.
Now in its second year, Careerforce’s 2025 Pacific Celebration of Success grouped graduates by their island nation. After the announcement of each island, the graduate’s family, friends and employers were welcomed to join them on stage and adorn them with beautiful flower leis, lolly necklaces and bouquets. Traditional Pacific dances were performed to celebrate the milestones, filling the room with rhythm, colour, and the rich cultural spirit of our islands.
Graduates heard from alumni Phillip Tavai who highlighted the value of lived experience and how this had been valued and reinforced during the training with Careerforce. He also spoke of the value of upskilling and completing training, “My passion will get me up in the morning, but professionalism will allow me to stay in the roles and have a greater impact on our communities,” says Phillip.
Vine Fisher, who was celebrating the completion of her NZ Diploma in Business, also delivered an inspiring speech and encouraged graduates to “get out there and keep learning because the beautiful thing about learning is that once you have that knowledge, no one can take it away from you”.
Careerforce Workplace Advisor, Tina Mischewski, enjoyed the event, and explained, “It was more than a celebration – it was a powerful connection to our learner’s culture, identity, and wider community. Witnessing the dedication and resilience of our learners reminded me that every moment of hard work, every sacrifice, and every challenge they faced along the way was worth it”.
Pacific Coordinator, Miriama Fetu, added, “Seeing their pride, hearing their stories, and sharing in their achievements brought such a sense of fulfilment. It reminded me why we do the work we do – to uplift, empower, and walk alongside our learners on their journey.”
For more information about Careerforce work-based learning programmes, contact [email protected] or 0800 277 486
Pacific graduates gathered on stage.