UOPISA was established in 2018 to provide a collective voice for Pacific Island students at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, the University of Otago. UOPISA operates at a strategic level by advocating, campaigning and lobbying for the aspirations of Pacific students - whether it's academic, social, spiritual or cultural. UOPISA encompasses thirteen member associations, 7 cultural and 6 academic, to best understand and represent the diversity of our Pacific students based in Ōtepoti, Dunedin.