Okirano was the first Pacific Advisor to sit at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha ӰԺ Students Association (UCSA) executive table. He has also worked with Pacific youth as a mentor, contributed to education policy for Pacific students, facilitated educational workshops and is a contributing author, but this is just a small slice of Okirano’s achievements and hard work.
The establishment of the Pacific Advisory Group and a dedicated Pacific Representative seat on the UCSA executive committee is one of Okirano’s major achievements from his time at UC; ensuring Pacific students have a direct voice in university decisions and fostering a more inclusive environment.
However, he doesn’t see this as a personal achievement. "A lot of groundwork was done by Pacific staff and previous students to advocate for support systems to create a sense of belonging. We've been able to build on that foundation and achieve significant milestones. My hope is that when my brothers come to UC, they will join a thriving Pacific community and I will have contributed to that," Okirano says.
"Success is not just about personal achievements; it's about uplifting others and contributing to the greater good. The support and sense of belonging we've built here will benefit future students and ensure they feel seen and valued."
For Okirano, his motivation lies in having gratitude for the sacrifices his parents have made for their family. "My parents sacrificed so much, moving to a new country, working multiple jobs, and learning a new language. Their dedication is my driving force. I want to ensure their sacrifices are worth it by giving back to my community and achieving success not just for myself, but for them.
“It’s so important to practise gratitude, otherwise what I have will never be enough. I just hope to buy my parents a house one day and take them travelling and to always be giving back to my community – it takes a village to raise a child but it takes that child to uplift the village. There will always be more but as long as I remain grateful for what I have, it will always be enough.”
Okirano recognises that those sacrifices come with their own challenges. “There was a huge emphasis on speaking English at school, but we spoke our native language at home. Balancing these worlds was challenging, and I still feel the impact as I strive to preserve my cultural heritage.”
At just 22 years old Okirano plans to continue building up and supporting his community to ensure Pacific people can thrive, while continuing to learn about his culture.
.jpg)
