This study uses an intersectional lens to understand the female Pasifika identity and its impact on Management or Human Resource Management study at tertiary level. This study used the Pacific methodology of Talanoa to guide the research and collect data from six Pasifika femaleswho studied or are currently studying Management or Human Resource Management majors at a New Zealand tertiary institution. This study aimed to understand the experiences of Pasifika females during their study and their responsibilities they had alongside study as Pasifika women. The findings were categorised under the identity constructs of gender, cultureand ethnicity to understand how the intersecting layers of identity causes oppression and impacts on Pasifika females’ academic journey. The study found that the responsibilities of Pasifika women were culturally rooted, while their experiences in completing their study were based around their ethnic identity. This dissertation shed light on the identity of Pasifika females and how different layers of identity intersect and develop instances of disadvantage for minority groups.

This study focused on the experiences of Pasifika female students studying Management or Human Resource Management at a New Zealand tertiary institution and provided insight into how Pasifika female students navigate predominately palagi (New Zealand-Western) environments. The study reveals how gender, culture and ethnicity for Pasifika women can create further disadvantage. The findings highlight a need to create new techniques and concepts that address managing Pasifika people based on their identity and understanding their nature of thought, emotion, and behavior in organisational settings.