Embedded Files
Our Tautai Pacific RTLB Values
In discussion, we have agreed on 6 Pacific Values for our Tautai Groups:
Our Pacific Values
Belonging
Love
Service
Spirituality
Humour
Safe space
These values are interwoven in all of the work that we do.
Pacific Migration Video
Le Vā
The term ‘vā’ refers to the space that exists between us. This is not empty space, but it is the space of woven connections that binds us together. Nurturing the ‘vā’, is essential to our relationships. The vā refers to the space but also the relationships that occupy that space.
“Important to the Samoan view of reality is the concept of the Vā or Wa in Maori and Japanese. Vā is the space between, the betweenness, not empty space, not space that separates but space that relates, that holds separate entities and things together in the Unity-that-is-All, the space that is context, giving meaning to the things. The meanings change as the relationship/the contexts change. A well-known Samoan expression is ‘Ia teu le vā’. Cherish/nurse/care for the vā, the relationships. This is crucial in communal cultures that value group, unity, more than individualism; who perceive the individual person/creature/thing in term of group, in terms of vā, relationships.” Albert Wendt (1996)
Fofola le fala
The rolling of the fala (mat) provides a safe space for talanoa to occur. It establishes that all who are present are equal so that all may speak freely as equals. The fala is imperfect, just as we are imperfect. It is weathered and worn through experience, just like we are. The fala is full of holes, which represent the gaps in our knowledge we seek to fill.
Talanoa
When we ‘Talanoa’, we talk, discuss, or converse. This is an inclusive process, where we participate as equals and our dialogue is transparent, no voice outshines the other.
Our talanoa is conducted with:
Ofa (love)
Mafana (warmth)
Malie (encouragement/humour)
Faka’apa’apa (respect)
Manuatu (2002), Vaioleti (2006), Mahina (1998), Seve-Williams (2009)
Pacific migration to Aotearoa
“A child will feel safe if they are wrapped in their culture” Tokelau, Hutt Valley, 2019.
Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020-2030 (2023 Refresh)
30 Year Education Vision
Whakamaua te pae tata kia tina
Take hold of your potential so it becomes your reality...
Whaia te pae tawhiti kia tata
Explore beyond the distant horizon and draw it near!
We are descendants of explorers, discoverers and innovators who used their knowledge to traverse distant horizons. Our learning will be inclusive, equitable and connected so we progress and achieve advances for our people and their future journeys and encounters.
The 30 year vision and the education objectives form the core of our overall approach to education. This Action Plan maps how we will achieve system change to better support Pacific learners and families in five key areas. This will be critical to give life to the 30 year vision for all learners and families in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Vision for Pacific Education
Diverse Pacific learners and their families are safe, valued, and equipped to achieve their education aspirations.
The Action Plan for Pacific Education (APPE) outlines the actions the Government has committed to achieving this vision and signals how early learning services, schools and tertiary providers can achieve change for Pacific learners and their families.
APPE identifies five key focus areas for change that are needed to achieve this vision:
Key Shift 1: Work reciprocally with diverse Pacific communities to respond to unmet needs, including growing and supporting Pacific bilingual and immersion education pathways
Key Shift 2: Confront systemic racism and discrimination in education
Key Shift 3: Enable every teacher, leader and educational professional to take coordinated action to become culturally competent with diverse Pacific learners
Key Shift 4: Partner with families to design education opportunities together with teachers, leaders and educational professionals so aspirations for learning and employment can be met
Key Shift 5: Grow, retain and value highly competent teachers, leaders and educational professionals of diverse Pacific heritages
Action Plan for Pacific Education.PDF1427 Progress Report_2025_WEB_SPS.pdfAction Plan for Pacific Education 2023
Tapasā (2018)
Tapasā overview
Tapasā is a tool that can be used to increase the capability of all teachers of Pacific learners.
It was developed by the Ministry of Education through consultation with Pacific teachers, academics, experts, families and communities as part of the Pasifika Education Plan's intention to realise the full potential of Pacific learners. The Teaching Council led the implementation of Tapasā and created resources for teachers' professional learning, including webinars and videos.
Important amendment to Tapasā: reference to Pacific learners' learning style has been removed. Read more about the amendment and update your copy.
Tapasā is a Samoan term, that can be loosely translated as a navigation compass. It can also be referred to as a guide on a journey. It serves a dual purpose - as a guide for teachers to navigate their own journey of becoming more culturally competent and as a symbol of the learning pathway that Pacific learners can undertake.
Three turu, or competencies, form the basis of the framework.
Turu 1: Identities, languages and cultures
Demonstrate awareness of the diverse and ethnic-specific identities, languages and cultures of Pacific learners.
Turu 2: Collaborative and respectful relationships and professional behaviours
Establishes and maintains collaborative and respectful relationships and professional behaviours that enhance learning and wellbeing for Pacific learners.
Turu 3: Effective pedagogies for Pacific learners
Implements pedagogical approaches that are effective for Pacific learners.
Tapasā Master document.pdfBest Practice for teaching Pacific Learners (2019)
This Pacific Evidence Brief sets out what is known about what works and what does not work in supporting Pacific learners to achieve. This will inform ongoing efforts to enhance equity, excellence, belonging and wellbeing for Pacific learners through the education system.
Key messages – We can do better for Pacific learners
Key messages from the research are that:
there are some excellent initiatives and pockets of effective practice, many co-constructed with Pacific communities, but they are not widespread
implementing evidence-informed good practice, based on existing knowledge of effective pedagogy, and culturally responsive pedagogy in particular, significantly enhances outcomes for Pacific learners’ wellbeing and achievement
efforts need to be informed by the evidence about what works – too often well-intentioned efforts are ineffective and can do harm
racism in both overt and less conspicuous forms pervades the education system and is a significant barrier to the wellbeing, belonging and achievement of Pacific learners and their families
low expectations and incorrect assumptions about the capabilities and motivations both of Pacific learners and their families impede the development of good relationships and the use of effective teaching strategies
inequitable opportunities in many different forms accumulate across the school years for Pacific learners
further research is required to strengthen knowledge and experience about good practice
sharing innovation to improve achievement requires strong leadership and significant sustained resource.
Key areas to focus practice for improvement:
Respecting and valuing identities, languages and cultures is critical
Home-school partnerships are highly beneficial
Appropriately high expectations drive good pedagogy and achievement
Culturally responsive pedagogy is a key strategy for lifting achievement
Best-practice-for-teaching-Pacific-learners-Pacific-Evidence-Brief-2019.pdfFive Level Approach to Using Cultural Capital
Pacific Learners' Demographics
Pacific-Learners-A3.pdfPacific Languages Strategy (2022)
Pacific-Languages-Strategy-2022-2032.pdfThe Strategy is founded on the vision that thriving Pacific languages build a prosperous Aotearoa. It has three key objectives:
1. Recognise the value of Pacific languages across Aotearoa;
2. Strengthen pathways and resources for learning Pacific languages and learning in Pacific languages; and
3. Create environments for Pacific languages to be used more often, and in more spaces.
In the Tokelau practice of fishing with the kupega (the net), close collaboration is required by those working both sides of the kupega to catch a school of fish. Communication and cooperation guarantee a plentiful catch and, in turn, ensure the village is fed. Hearing, learning, and speaking our heritage languages nourishes us, like fish from the ocean, granting the strength, health, and energy we need to lead prosperous lives. To retain and revitalise Pacific languages, we must work the kupega together to create the right conditions for a plentiful catch.
There is a long history of Pacific communities and language champions drawing on their innovation, creativity, and resourcefulness to work the kupega to retain their Pacific languages. This journey has been inspired by the strides tangata whenua have made to protect and promote te reo Māori in Aotearoa. This Strategy supports these efforts by bringing together all those who seek to maintain and revitalise Pacific languages, and by making sure they are collectively manoeuvring the kupega – communicating, collaborating and complementing the actions of others to guarantee the biggest catch.
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