The WSU is delighted to announce the appointment of Rosalie Norton as WSU Director Pacific. 

“We believe Rosalie is an exceptional person and will be a fantastic addition to the WSU Board. She is creative, talented and has a strong drive to serve her community and Pacific People,” said WSU President  George Liu.

“I am excited by the challenge of working with the board and particularly the VP Māori to re-energise the Rōpū Pacific area that has struggled since Covid. I am hoping to get started right away because there is a unique life and energy to campus when the Pacific Clubs are thriving,” said Rosalie Norton

“With Rosalie’s appointment now official, our next step forward is providing new infrastructure for Pacific rōpū, so that groups like Tech-Tongans, Vanuatu and the Cook Island Students Association get more support and a seat at the table” said Vice-President Māori Temepara Smith

Aside from her new role with the WSU, Rosalie has long since been an advocate for the Waikato creative community. She hosts the podcast “Generation Unapologetically Me” is a co-chair for the Rangatahi Voices, Waikato Regional Council youth council, youth advisory member for both Inspiring Stories and The Hive, and founder of mindbox.nz, which runs youth workshops on mental health. Rosalie also performs as a musician under the name Lehali (who also has a new single and music video coming out soon!).  

Rosalie’s appointment at the WSU Board Meeting (29th of April) in Tauranga concludes a process of independently shortlisting candidates with a non-WSU panel and then interviewing a top three.

We would like to thank Sianiti Nakabea, Fuifui Te’evale, and Whetu Taukamo as well as all of the excellent candidates. We know this process has taken slightly longer than we would have hoped, but we are confident that we have found someone who can help us re-engage a vital community on campus.