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| Photo: Members of the New Zealand Pasifika Principals Association (NZPPA) – Sutton Park School 2018 |
Today we held our Term 4 New Zealand Pasifika Principals Association (NZPPA) Executive and Auckland Regional Meeting. We were hosted at Sutton Park School in Mangere and 23 Pasifika Principals attended from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
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| Photo: NZPPA Executive – Faatili, Filivaifale, Helen, Stephanie, Taitu’uga, Sose and Karl |
The day started with the NZPPA Executive Meeting from 9am – 12pm. It was an opportunity for the executive to report on the meetings they have been attending on our behalf and for us to start planning for 2019. Our NZPPA members are involved in so many important work streams within the education sector and are office holders of some of the most significant leadership positions in education such as:
- Tomorrows Schools Taskforce and the Cross-Sector Advisory Panel – Barbara Alaalatoa, Jason Swann & Sose Annandale
- Education Workforce Strategy Governance Group – Sepora Mauigoa, Helen Varney & Stephanie Tawha
- Curriculum, Progress and Achievement Ministerial Advisory Groups – Sonia Johnston, Stephanie Tawha & Sylvia Fidow
- Charter Schools Advisory Group – Jason Swann
- Investing in Educational Success Advisory Group – Karl Vasau
- Education Act Reference Group – Geoff Siave
- Joint Taskforce on Reducing Compliance – Karl Vasau & Helen Varney
- Chairperson of the Education Council of Aotearoa NZ – Barbara Alaalatoa
- President of Auckland Primary Principals Association – Helen Varney
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| Photo: NZPPA Members waiting to be welcomed in a Special Powhiri by Sutton Park School |
After the executive meeting the other Auckland based principals joined us to start our NZPPA Auckland Regional Meeting. This started with an amazing Powhiri and Welcoming ceremony led by the students and staff of Sutton Park School. We were absolutely blown away by their performances and speeches.
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| Photo: Sutton Park School Kapahaka Group |
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| Photo: Hariru |
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| Photo: Hariru |
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| Photo: Sutton Park School Samoan Group |
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| Photo: Sutton Park School Tongan Group |
Then the highlight of our morning was the students of Sutton Park School led and carried out an Ava ceremony to welcome us formally to their school. It was a moving and very traditional experience we will not forget.
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| Photo: Sutton Park School students leading the Ava Ceremony |
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| Photo: Iva receiving the Ava |
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| Photo: NZPPA Members participating in the Ava Ceremony |
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| Photo: Malia, Rosina, Becs and Me |
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| Photo: AlaimalÅ, Helen, Filivaifale, Taitu’uga |
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| Photo: Warrick, Iva, Saane and Stephanie |
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| Photo: Sepora, Jenny and Mary |
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| Photo: Rosina, Melini, Saane, Paeariki, Sose and Mary |
We were then treated to an amazing Pasifika Meal with all the trimmings. It was a very special but also sad gathering as we farewelled one of our original NZPPA Members Corinne Hansell who has decided to retire from Principalship. Our President Filivaifale thanked Corinne for her service and loyalty to our association and presented her with a gift on our behalf.
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| Photo: Filivaifale acknowledging and farewelling Corinne |
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Photo: Corinne Hansell
We then finished our meeting with a Talanoa session and members got to introduce themselves and share what was on top for them. The number of Pasifika Principals in NZ is 58 and 38 of these are in Auckland. We look forward to our first meeting of 2019 at Howick College in week 7. |
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| Photo: Talanoa Session |
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| Photo: Talanoa Session |
