Loisi Leger | University of Auckland Foundation

Master of Arts (Anthropology)

Ko ha taha fakapotopoto ‘oku ne lava ‘o ngaue’aki

‘ene ngaahi ‘ilo ke tokoni’i ‘ene kāinga’ 

My pursuit of knowledge is rooted in my aspirations as an Indigenous storyteller. Pacific peoples have long used stories to navigate the world, transmitting knowledge, values and ways of being across generations. Today, many narratives about Pacific peoples are shaped by neocolonial systems that commodify our bodies, cultures and experiences. 

I am interested in how colonial myths have informed academic practices and contemporary migration policies, shaping how Pacific peoples are valued, depicted, and rendered visible or invisible—particularly within settler states. 

I recognise the harm that Anthropology has caused Indigenous communities. As both a member of these communities and now an anthropologist with institutional privilege, I acknowledge the weight of this responsibility. I strive to produce research that is accountable, equitable, accessible and rooted in the communities I come from, returning knowledge in ways that affirm their agency, stories, and humanity.

Long live Indigenous imagination and resistance. 

Sponsor: University of Auckland Foundation

Mentor: Ane Tonga

Curator of Pacific Art at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki and a leading arts curator and cultural leader. Ane brings extensive experience in curatorial practice, governance, and arts leadership, with a strong commitment to Indigenous and Pacific representation. She supports emerging leaders through mentoring grounded in creativity, cultural identity, and service.