NUKUʻALOFA, TONGA — 88.1 FM – Letio ‘a e Kakai Tonga has reported on concerning findings from a survey at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, where nearly one in three respondents reported experiencing sexual injustice during their time at the institution.
The report, Attitudes Towards Sexual Injustice in the University Environment, released by the Auckland University Students’ Association (AUSA) on 22 October 2026, found that 29.5% of 183 respondents had experienced some form of sexual injustice while studying at the university.
Reported experiences included sexual harassment, unwanted physical contact and sexual assault. The survey was conducted between August and October 2025, and its voluntary sample is not necessarily representative of the university’s entire student population.
Why are incidents going unreported?
The report identified barriers to reporting, including fear of not being taken seriously, lack of trust in complaint processes and uncertainty about where to seek help.
Among respondents to the relevant question, 50.9% said they had not reported an incident to the university or an external organisation. This figure does not establish how many reported incidents to police specifically.
The findings highlight the need for accessible reporting channels, appropriate support for affected students and clear procedures for investigating complaints. The University of Auckland has also announced an independent review of its handling of sexual-harassment concerns involving staff.
What can Tonga learn?
Although the survey does not measure the prevalence of sexual harm in Tonga, it raises an important question for local schools and tertiary institutions: do students feel safe reporting sexual harassment or assault, and can they trust institutions to respond appropriately?
Educational institutions must ensure students know where to seek help, complaints are handled fairly and confidentially, and appropriate action is taken when allegations are substantiated.
The findings raise a question that educational institutions cannot afford to ignore: if students do not feel safe reporting sexual harm, who is protecting them—and who will be held accountable when the systems designed to protect them fail? For Tonga, the lesson is clear: student safety must never be compromised by silence, fear or institutional inaction.
