Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020-2030

Jul 21, 2020

Photo: Samoan students from Otahuhu Primary School performing for the special guests as part of the Launch
Today I attended the launching of the Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020-2030 at Otahuhu Primary School. It was officially launched by the Hon. Jenny Salesa (Associate Minister of Education) and she was supported by the Hon. Carmel Sepoloni. The Action Plan is supported by Government’s investment of $27.4 million in Budget 2019 and a further $80.2 million in Budget 2020 to support Pacific learners and families.


Photo: Filivaifale Jason Swann – Principal of Otahuhu Primary School, President of NZPPA, Chairperson of Tautai o le Moana and MC for the Launch
Photo: Hon. Jenny Salesa – Minister of Customs, Building and Construction, Ethnic Communities, Associate Minister of Health and Education and very proud Tongan woman 


The new Action Plan incorporated years of voice collection from students, educators, parents and the community on what will work for Pacific Students. She also spoke of 5 key shifts for action that the voices had asked to see happen:
  1. Work reciprocally with Pacific communities to respond to unmet needs, such as growing pacific bilingual and immersion pathways
  2. Confront systemic racism and discrimination in education
  3. Enable every educator to take action to become culturally competent for diverse Pacific learners
  4. Partner with families to design education opportunities together with educators to support their family’s aspirations for learning and employment
  5. Grow and value highly competent educators and leaders with pacific heritages
Photo: Tongan student from Otahuhu Primary School performing a traditional Tongan Dance for the special guests as part of the Launch

Photo: Powhiri for the Launching of the Action Plan for Pacific Education Plan 2020-2030

These key shifts are outlined and explained further in the Action Plan which includes resources and indicators to help us measure our own performance in relation to educating Pacific students. The Action Plan guides education agencies to work collaboratively with Pacific communities over the next 10 years, and signals how early learning services, schools and tertiary providers can achieve change for Pacific learners and families.


Here are some photos of some of the special guests which added real mana to the event …



Photo: Me and Liam Rutherford – President NZEI

Photo: Me and Nic Pole – Chief Executive ERO and
Taule’ale’ausumai Tofaga Violet Tuuga Stevenson – Pule Pasifika ERO

Photo: Me and some of the NZ Pasifika Principals in Attendance

Photo: Me and Professor Bobby Hunter – DMiC

Photo: Me and some of the NZ Pasifika Principals in Attendance with Dr Rae Siilata


Minister Salesa also made two important announcements on increased and continual funding for the following proven and successful initiatives:
  1. Investing $2.9M to expand the Tautai o le Moana programme, an educational leadership collaboration which seeks to strengthen the capabilities of those in leadership, to improve outcomes and support the wellbeing of our Pacific learners.
  2. Investing $9.2m over four years to strengthen Pacific PowerUP and introduce new key features that include a stronger focus on vocational pathways, Pacific language resources and guided resource kits for use in schools and with parents and communities,  in urban, regional and emerging regions. The new name for this programme is Talanoa Ako.
Thank you to the students, Principal and staff of Otahuhu Primary School for their amazing hospitality and entertainment for this event. 


Photo: Faatili Iosua Esera – Principal Sutton Park School and Chair of Fagasa showing us his Siva skills
Photo: The Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020-2030 – Look out for it!!!