Pasifika Educators Talanoa Series by Trina Wilkinson

Changing Times

2025-10-13 05:35:28 UTC

Possible to have some of these during the day please? And if enough notice given - contacting our principals for release? I have found it hard to attend, due to family commitments.

Incorporation

2025-10-13 05:37:00 UTC

How to incorporate OUR Pasifika identity through visual art, as well as into our classrooms and pushing it out further into our school. It was a fantastic workshop and I would love the opportunity to do it again!

Hosts

2025-10-13 05:38:37 UTC

Different kura hosting so that we can see each others spaces? As a lonely kaiako in my space - would love the opportunity to see other spaces during PLD where it doesn't take away from our own times either.

Angie

2025-10-13 05:39:00 UTC

Angie Malae to keep pushing this for us here in Ōtautahi!

Pedagogy

2025-10-13 06:21:59 UTC

Thanks for the sessions Angie and team. I would love to continue learning effective pedagogy around accelerating Pasifika students. Possibly backed by research or data.

Times

2025-10-13 06:23:09 UTC

Changing PD to during the day would be easier for me to attend.

Koko Ngati

2025-10-13 06:24:34 UTC

Was encouraged to seek God's voice more and His direction.

Connection

2025-10-13 06:25:22 UTC

Was great getting to know others. Seeing it was an all day event, had heaps of time to get to know each other.

Leadership

2025-10-13 06:26:24 UTC

Possibly preparing for principalship. I've never thought about or wanted it, but this series sparked something.

creative community

2025-10-13 08:27:04 UTC

Loved the ability to sit, chat, connect and create. In process of booking Ana in for 2026, to connect to our new Pasifika students coming in, and to bridge these skills across new students every two years. The aim of building a beautiful wall of flowers for all the community for years to come.

Moana

2025-10-13 08:39:33 UTC

Multifaceted learning - connecting through hands on learning, skill based practice and opening a spiritual awareness of our heritage and ancestral links to the ocean. Marvelous experience! 10/10

P.A.S.S

2025-10-13 08:47:31 UTC

Most thought provoking workshop. Made me think how I can do the best for our Pasifika kids - where do they fit? How do I change my practice to ensure they fit? How do I modify my thinking to allow them to flourish? How will I recognise my Pasifika learners in a variety of learning environments? Does the Pasifika lens work for other ethnicities too? Can it be secular and still work within the Pasifika community?

Keep in contact

2025-10-13 08:51:05 UTC

Continue the connections - meeting up, visiting each other's schools, educating non-Pasifika teachers, workshops with YAVU and Tapasā - so we know our stuff! Going overseas to share knowledge - cultural exchange with Pasifika educators...

Change

2025-10-13 08:57:02 UTC

Getting things put in place from the top down and building positive foundations from the bottom up.

2025-10-13 08:58:09 UTC

Community 10/10

Confidence

2025-10-13 23:09:55 UTC

Reaffirm that what I am doing at my kura is right by our Pasifika students - even if my colleagues dig their feet in... Aue!

Full Day Talanoa

2025-10-14 23:28:06 UTC

Just a suggestion, in order to have our Pacific educators attend this valuable Pacific PLD during the day, there is possible funding available through your RTLB Service. In Cluster 34 (Michelle's cluster) there is definitely funding placed aside for releasing of kaiako and teacher aide funding. Please reach out to Michelle for this is the future if this is an option.

Creative Talanoa

2025-10-14 23:34:26 UTC

Loved this relaxed creative community connection. Connecting with other Pacific educators is the highlight for me.

Ana is a wealth of creativity and so inspiring. It would be a great project for schools to incorporate as an outside visual mural! https://www.upa.ac.nz/ can support schools make this happen.

P.A.S.S

2025-10-14 23:42:21 UTC

Loved hearing about their passion and journey on creating a space for our Pacific learners. Loved their philosophy; values education, "we are Samoan and Tongan heavy, but we serve the least culture", greeting and welcoming the children each morning with hugs, creating a sense of security in adults which helps turn survival threat response off. Acknowledging staff need healing before healing children...this is backed by neuroscience and practically has some challenges...I need to think more about this because our children require regulated adults in front of them.

2025-10-14 23:43:46 UTC

Connection and building my identity within a community.

School Visits

2025-10-14 23:45:35 UTC

Possibly incorporating school/classroom visits and utilising the strengths within our community. We have so much strength within this community.

Blessed!

2025-10-16 00:13:00 UTC

Blessed to have been invited into a space where we could see and listen to Pasifika and Māori success in authentic and true form. To know that there is a possibility of a school that is purely for our kids warms my heart. Their future is bright because the right people are in place and know what is up. What a blessing to be in that space and to see what God put on this earth for our babies. One of my favourite talanoa to date!

Honoured

2025-10-16 00:16:16 UTC

What an honour to be invited along this journey and getting a wee taste of what our ancestors had. What made this momentus, was that kaiako were prepared to still come out on 1) a rainy day and 2)it was on a Saturday. That there speaks volumes of the presence of our Pasifika Kaiako here in Otautahi. Key learnings; seeing the fire ignite amongst our kaiako as we start planning and talking about what is best for our educators to keep achieving, being successful and how we share our capabilities and talents with everyone. We have a wealth of "gifts" amongst our kaiako, how do we show the world this?

Continued Talanoa

2025-10-16 00:22:29 UTC

>Continue with similar style workshops.

>Talanoa for a day rather than short burst and getting presentations or guest speakers to come in to share their kaupapa.

> Bus tours around different schools to share what is happening in our classrooms.

> Travel to the Pacific Islands as Pasifika Kaiako and give back to our people by working and assisting in their schools (2 weeks). From there; how are we similar? What changes can we bring back to our kura? How do we continue to support our people back home? Ways to give to Pacific schools in the islands, without dumping things we don't need onto them, ie useful resources, stationary, providing resources to help with financial dependence (hair cutting, financial literacy etc)

>Create a Pasifika Kahui Ako Hub for our people/schools to come together and celebrate through performances etc. Similar to Polyfest but on a very small scale.

>More connection with MOE people. Connect with them outside of the classroom. We know they have a busy life beyond the office doors but it would be lovely to mix more often with them.

2025-10-16 00:22:55 UTC

Connection, visibility, voice and alofa

2025-10-16 00:26:48 UTC

My family - our future, what does that look like for us? Hopefully travel?

School - Making sure this bilingual unit is a hit even with the bumps that will come with it. Professional knowledge and development around second language acquisitions. Maybe even post grad study (part time).

Spiritual - get back into bible study

Game changers on a vaka

2025-10-19 04:53:05 UTC

Talanoa 2 almost didn't happen with the wind and the rain, but the Gods shone down on us and really let us have the time on the water as we came together. From working in teams learning about the star compass, to rope tying and then the ulitmate, being out on the vaka putting it all into practise.

It was an amazing session of learning, conversation and just being in an outside space (as we are so often confined to the walls of a classroom, or room) seeing our people thrive and doing what naturally came to us was powerful to see.

Leadership, pushing the boundaries

2025-10-19 04:54:13 UTC

moving into the next realm of leadership. It is time for more Pasifika's to hold the SLT seats and have our voices heard even more
being a positive, proactive and passionate role model for all the ākonga in my school and an example for the kaiako in my space
when a door closes, look for the window!

2025-10-19 04:55:09 UTC

Time to connect after school - without the stress or worry of having release declined or turned down due to staffing.

Connection and relationship building with new sectors and new people

Laughs and reminders that as cheesy as it is, we are all in this together, and together we can make the change.

2025-10-19 04:56:27 UTC

Using what we have created and started this year to make more things happen

Ask our schools to pay us our worth - by this I mean, recognise we do this for not just our Pasifika students, the impact is ten fold

Having a network wider than just us, principal's have one, so why can't we?

A nation wide Fono, that isn't the NZEI pasifika one, one just for us.

Creativity through Connection

2025-10-19 07:35:53 UTC

I really enjoyed and valued having the time and space to be creative and build connections. Hearing from Ana what each of the symbols mean and how they can be combined to create meaning and connection for each of us individually, was extremely powerful. It made me reflect on how I can provide opportunities for my students to combine their creative superpowers with their culture and identity, in a non-threatening and supportive environment. Walking away from the workshop with two artefacts that I can use as examples with my own students, was really valuable too. I also loved having time to connect with my fellow educators and begin building relationships with people who I had not met before. Fa'afetai lava!

Once in a Lifetime Experience!

2025-10-19 07:43:43 UTC

Wow!! This experience was full of key takeaways and so many amazing moments. From working in groups to learn (and perform) parts of the star compass, to helping hoist the sail on a real life waka hourua, to sitting in the sun - connecting with colleagues and making plans for future Pasifika PD - the day had it all!! Along with these highlights, I appreciated the warmth, expertise and mana of the Flying Geese crew and hearing about how they are making differences in the lives of our rangatahi - so inspiring! I honestly walked away from the day feeling an overwhelming sense of calmness, inspiration and connection to my Pasifika culture. I also felt re-energised to get through the remainder of the school term!! Thank you so much for planning this experience - it has been a highlight of my year!!

Inspirational

2025-10-19 07:53:11 UTC

This presentation was extremely valuable. Hearing about the PASS journey and how challenges were overcome, was very inspiring and made me reflect on how I can elevate the cultures and languages of my Pasifika students and create a more inclusive school environment. The need for a school like PASS in Ōtautahi, has been reaffirmed to me recently at a different Pasifika PD workshop. With the right approach, people and resources, more of our Pasifika children and young people could achieve success and flourish in their culture and also academically.

Multiple Approaches

2025-10-19 08:09:54 UTC

Once a term 'Connect' sessions to keep momentum going as well as to share any new ideas, opportunities etc. These could be held on a re-occuring date each term, after school so that people knew in advance to keep the date free!
Bring more Pasifika PD down to Ōtautahi (e.g. Tapasā)
Place-based learning: A trip to a Pacific island to continue our learning around vaka/ navigation and cultural knowledge/ tikanga of different islands. Opportunities to connect with other Pacific educators and share strengths and expertise.
Involving and recognising the support of our Principals and BOTs by inviting them to attend a celebration with their Pasifika educators (building our community of allies)
Planning an informal end of year event - time to reflect, connect and share inspiration for 2026

Building a Community

2025-10-19 08:13:33 UTC

I think this series has helped to build a really strong sense of community amongst our Pasifika educators. Having multiple opportunities/ workshops to connect with others, share ideas and be inspired has definitely been a highlight of my year. Also, having the opportunity to discuss topics and challenges with a range of people (e.g. Primary, Secondary, RTLB, University, other organisations) has been really valuable.

2025-10-19 08:17:40 UTC

Continuing my growth as a leader (not just in Pasifika spaces)
Increasing my understanding of Tapasā and effective pedagogy for Pacific learners
Maintaining connections with my Pacific colleagues and looking for ways to continue to grow as Pasifika educators
Growing my Pacific language skills and also my te reo

2026

tmo20 — 2025-10-26 22:50:16 UTC

Main priority is to ensure the PPTA Komiti Pasifika Fono ChCh runs smoothly. It is being held at Rydges on Latimer Square.

Momentum continuing

tmo20 — 2025-10-26 22:52:14 UTC

Ensure we have a variety of events with more guest speakers and hosts. Showcase our different kuras and get an insight into how each kaiarahi operates.

Team work

2025-12-02 02:05:20 UTC

What an awesome day it was learning about the vaka navigation, compass direction and its traditional bearings & stories behind them then finally getting on the water and experiencing it. Learning outside of the traditional classroom space was a bonus!

Also, learning the different types of knots (useful for school camp and outdoors)

Fa'afetai tele lava