This paper sought to determine the reasons for academic inequities experienced by Māori and Pacific health professional students attending the University of Auckland in 2002–2012. Using Kaupapa Māori methodology, the researchers analysed data for 2686 health professional students. Māori and Pacific students were more likely than non-Māori non-Pacific (nMnP) students to attend low-decile schools (27% Māori, 33% Pacific vs 5% nMnP; p<0.01), complete bridging foundation programmes (43% Māori, 50% Pacific vs 5% nMnP; p<0.01), and have lower secondary school results (Rank Score 197 Māori, 178 Pacific vs 231 nMnP; p<0.01). Moreover, nMnP students achieved a higher first-year grade point average (GPA) (3.6 Māori, 2.8 Pacific vs 4.7 nMnP; p<0.01), were more likely to pass all first-year courses (61% Māori, 41% Pacific vs 78% nMnP; p<0.01), to graduate from the intended programme (66% Māori, 69% Pacific vs 78% nMn;, p<0.01), and to achieve optimal completion (9% Māori, 2% Pacific vs 20% nMnP; p<0.01) compared with Māori and Pacific students.
