Oceans Between Us: Pacific Peoples and Racism in Aotearoa

Sereana Naepi (Fijian, Pakeha) is an associate professor in sociology at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland. With a research focus on equity in higher education, Indigenous research methodologies, and the experiences of Pacific peoples, Maori and early career researchers in academia, she is committed to addressing systemic barriers to success in universities and advocating for institutional change. Her work explores the impact of neoliberalism on education and the need for Indigenous knowledge systems to be recognised within academic spaces. Sereana has co-authored research on decolonising universities and improving pathways for underrepresented scholars. She is a recipient of the Rutherford Discovery Fellowship and Spencer Education grants. Through her scholarship and advocacy, she contributes to rethinking how education serves diverse communities, challenging traditional structures to create more just and inclusive learning environments for future generations.