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Arising from the considerable evidence available about the 'gap' in participation and achievement of Pacific peoples in tertiary education, the New Zealand Government's Pasifika Education Plan for tertiary education nominates as its focus 'increasing participation and achievement, improving retention and encouraging higher levels of study'. While Pacific peoples' participation has increased over the last decade it is still lower than that of the general population, and there is a lack of understanding about why the 'gap' persists. A Centre for Assessment of Prior Learning (CAPL) was established at Manukau Institute of Technology in 2002. The institute is located in South Auckland, a region with the largest population of Polynesian and Maori people in New Zealand. Soon after the Centre was launched, a contract with the Ministry of Education was negotiated to provide recognition of prior learning to Pasifika Early Childhood Educators as a means of encouraging them to participate in tertiary education and, in particular, to gain a Diploma of Teaching. CAPL facilitators have developed ways of working with Pasifika people which are unique to their culture. In many instances, Pasifika women have entered the workforce as cleaners, cooks or support for teachers. During the recognition of prior learning process, they have been amazed at the amount of learning they have gained from working in Early Childhood Centres. Gaining a Diploma of Teaching will enable them to develop their careers and raise the standard of living in Auckland's (and New Zealand's) lowest socio-economic suburbs. With large families to provide for, giving up work whilst attending a three year training course is out of the question but being able to gain credit towards the Diploma of Teaching from the informal learning that has taken place on-the-job, makes participation in tertiary education a real possibility.