The term Pasifika emerged in Aotearoa New Zealand as a collective name for peoples of Pacific Island heritage, especially those living in diaspora communities. It is not a term traditionally used within the Pacific Islands themselves, but rather a socially and politically constructed identifier used to refer to Polynesian, Micronesian, and Melanesian peoples residing primarily in New Zealand and Australia. The spelling “Pasifika” reflects phonetic usage from Polynesian languages and emphasizes Indigenous perspectives and voices. Although the term came from outside the community, Pacific people have increasingly taken it back and reshaped it to reflect their own identities and values. For many, Pasifika is more than a label—it’s a way to build unity between different Pacific cultures in diaspora, affirm their shared experiences, and resist colonial and racist ideas. At the same time, some people criticize the term because it can hide the many differences between Pacific communities, such as languages, histories, and political struggles. Today, Pasifika can be a useful and empowering term, especially in places where Pacific peoples live far from their ancestral homelands. But it must be used carefully, with awareness of its limits and the diversity it tries to represent. Like other labels shaped during colonial times, it can be both a tool of inclusion and a reminder of the need for more accurate, community-led ways of naming and knowing.