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| Photo: NZPPA AGM – Wellington March 2024 |
The NZ Pasifika Principals Association held its AGM and membership gathering on Wednesday 13 March and Thursday 14 March in Wellington. NZPPA is a Principals Association whose vision is “To proactively advance the cause of Pasifika Education” and our values are Love – Alofa, Aroha, Aloha / Service Tautua / Strength Faamalosi / Respect Faaloalo, faka’apa’apa. Our principles which drive us and help guide our work are Whakamana Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Pasifika Learners are at the heart of our Decisions/ Actions/ Directions and we Advocate and support the Professional Status and Rights of our Members. In 2023 we had a financial membership of 70 with a total of 120 principals in our communication network.
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| Photo: NZPPA AGM |
NZPPA Members gathered for the AGM on Wednesday 13 March at the Naumi Hotel on Cuba Street. It was an amazing opportunity for us to complete the business of the Association but more importantly for our members to reconnect with each other and also to meet new Principals. We also elected a new Executive Committee for the next 2 years who will have a strong mandate for the next 2 years which we will further unpack on Thursday. In attendance at the AGM and or the Gathering were:
- Tumua Pala’aia – St Matthews School – MARTON,
- Michelle Fepuleai – Nga Iwi School – AUCKLAND,
- Sose Annandale – Avalon Intermediate School – LOWER HUTT,
- Mary Takatainga – Manurewa East School – AUCKLAND,
- Etuale Junior Togia – Moturoa School – NEW PLYMOUTH,
- Jacqui Yearsley – Richmond Rd School – AUCKLAND,
- Jason Ataera – Tairangi School – PORIRUA,
- Anau Kupa – Windley School – PORIRUA,
- Tute Mila – Arakura School – WAINUIOMATA,
- Bernice Matautia – Mangere Bridge School – AUCKLAND,
- Sita Selupe – Rise Up Academy School – AUCKLAND,
- Diane Parkinson – Bucklands Beach Int School – AUCKLAND,
- Clara Tuifao – St Michaels School – LOWER HUTT,
- Juliette Toma – Porirua East School – PORIRUA,
- Allison Hamilton – Ruapotaka School – AUCKLAND,
- James Williams – Avondale School – AUCKLAND,
- Maria Lyne – St Josephs School – LEVIN,
- Vasati Vaoiva – Sir Edmond Hillary Junior School – AUCKLAND,
- Sue Goodin – Holy Family School – PORIRUA,
- Faatili Iosua Esera – Retired – PORIRUA,
- Christina Patea – Homai School – AUCKLAND,
- Jerry Leaupepe – Tautai O Le Moana – AUCKLAND,
- Mel Bland – Te Uho O Te Nikau School – AUCKLAND,
- Jenny Bernard – Otahuhu Primary School – AUCKLAND,
- Falefatu Enari – PASS Academy Secondary School – AUCKLAND,
- Bevan Verryt – Campbells Bay School – AUCKLAND,
- Helen Varney – Director of Tautai O Le Moana – AUCKLAND,
- Adam Tamariki – Te Paina School – WAIKATO,
- Lee Nanai – Catholic Cathedral College – CHRISTCHURCH,
- Saane Faaofo-Oldehaver – Weymouth School/ MoE – AUCKLAND,
- Davida Suasua – Rosehill College – AUCKLAND,
- Parehuia Enari – PASS Academy Secondary School – AUCKLAND,
- Dallas Wichman – St Annes School – CHRISTCHURCH,
- Graeme Norman – Rowley School – CHRISTCHURCH,
- Sepora Mauigoa – Glendene School – AUCKLAND,
- Mike Savali – St Patricks College – WELLINGTON,
- Wes Va’ai-Wells – Woodville School – MANAWATU,
- Uaina Leuluai – SDA School – PORIRUA,
- Judith Taylor – Upper Hutt College – UPPER HUTT,
- Bert Iosia – Kelston Intermediate School – AUCKLAND
- Tania McDonald – Brockville School – DUNEDIN
- Karl Vasau – Rowandale School – AUCKLAND
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| Photo: Our gift to Saane – President of NZPPA |
It was also a time we used to thank our President – Saane, for her service to the Association and how she has left our association in a good position to move forward. After the AGM we then shared a meal together at a local Restaurant hosted by our Wellington NZPPA Members. It was more time to continue to strengthen our own wellbeing and Va through sharing and talanoa.
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| Photo: NZPPA Gathering – St Patricks College – Wellington March 2024 |
On Thursday 14th March we then gathered at St Patricks College in Kilbirnie were we were welcomed and hosted for our Day 2 Gathering. This was an opportunity for our members to further build Whakawhanaungatanga and also to engage with officials from the Ministry of Education and The Education Review Office. The welcome by the boys at St Pats was amazing and a testament to their amazing Principal – Well done Mike.
Our Principals were engaged in sharing in relation to Why they were there and also to share celebrations and whats on top for them. The Ministry of Education and ERO also chose to use the time to gather our voices and allow us to Talanoa and share our opinions on some of the work they were doing in our space. A safe and respectful space to allow for real Talanoa.
The time was well used to ensure we worked together and were able to share our voices in Groups or as a whole group. The success of the day had a lot to do with how we were hosted by the Amazing NZPPA members from the Wellington Region. Tautua at its most greatest!
It was also very special for our gathering to hear from Helen Varney – Director of Tautai O Le Moana and to hear their link to us, their story and what they have been able to achieve in such a short time. Saane our current President also facilitated a visioning exercise to ensure that the new Executive had a clear mandate moving forward.
To finish our day our most Senior Pasifika Principal who recently retired as Principal of Sutton Park School in Mangere, Faatili Iosua Esera summed up the day and sent us on our way with a number of challenges and life long lessons in the way of stories and words of wisdom. His Tautua is a reminder to us all that life is too short and we need to ensure we are focussed on making a difference. To finish this blog it is only appropriate that we remember the late Paeariki Johnston who was the Principal of Rongomai School in Otara and also a very active and loyal member of NZPPA. Your spirit and memory was well and truly part of our 2 days in Auckland my Friend.
