Rowandale’s Principal – NZ Pasifika Principals Meeting

Photo: NZPPA Members who attended last meeting: Karl, Sisi, Tepora, Saane, Corinne, Jenny, Jason, Helen, Melini – Minus Faatili and Fatu (They left early lol)

On Wednesday 2 November we held our 
NZ Pasifika Principals Association (NZPPA) 
Auckland regional Meeting at Birdwood School in Ranui. 

Photo: Birdwood Kapahaka group
Photo: Faatili thanking them for their performance

We were met and hosted by the amazing and welcoming Jenny Bernard who has been Principal at Birdwood for just over a year. We were also treated to a special performance put on for us by the Kapahaka Group who were preparing for their Cultural night on Thursday.

Photo: Jason thanking Sergeant Sanalio for his presentation 


Our meeting started with our guest speaker:

Sergeant Sanalio Kaihau
– Pacific Liason District Coordinator – Waitemata District Police.

His main points of his talk was:

  • Thanked us for the opportunity to share a little about his story and his work.
  • From very humble beginnings to achieve beyond people’s expectations.
  • 9 Years as a police officer. Father of 3.
  • Talked about the struggles he had in his early life but attributed his success and good fortune to God.
  • Worked in the area to develop an at risk kids homework centre which has grown from 6 – 19 children.
  • Desire to have all the agencies working together to work towards helping at risk kids.
  • Huge drive to have more ethnic police on the force.



The meeting was full off positive discussion and sharing on the following topics:

    • PCT – Practicing Certificate Advisory Group (Helen)
    • MAC/ Pasifika Self Assessment Framework (Helen)
    • Cultural Responsiveness (Helen)
    • Tapa Sa Resource (Jason)
    • MOE PLD Reference Group (Jason)
    • APPA – Samoan/ Tongan Speech contest review (Jason)
    • NZPPA Stat Plan/ Constitution (Helen)
    • MOE Values Review Report (Faatili)
    • Pasifika Principal Welfare/ Pastoral Care/ Mentoring (Jason)
    • NZPPA Conference/ Gathering – Wellington 2017 – (Karl/ Sisi/ Corinne)
    • COLs Discussion (Tepora/ Jenny)
    • Code of Ethics (Jenny)
    • First Time Principal discussion (Melini)

Photo: Helen celebrated her 60th BDay with us


Discussion then moved to the number of Pasifika Principals in Auckland and according to our count and from what we know the total is 30 … 
Here is a list of who they are, where they work and Pasifika Heritage (Sorry if I missed your name):
  1. Banapa Avatea – Principal Flatbush School (Cook Island)
  2. Rebecca Kaukau – Principal Mansell Senior (Samoan)
  3. Tone Kolose – Principal Manurewa South (Samoan)
  4. Karl Vasau – Principal Rowandale (Niuean)
  5. Saane Oldehaver-Faaofo -Principal Weymouth (Samoan)
  6. Melini Faasavalu -Principal Waimahia Int (Samoan)
  7. Sonia Johnston – Principal Roscommon (Samoan)
  8. Rosina Wikaira – Principal Homai (Cook Island)
  9. Paeariki Johnson – Principal Rongomai (Cook Island)
  10. Sisi Key – Principal Ferguson Intermediate (Samoan)
  11. Pelu Leaupepetele – Kedgley Intermediate (Samoan)
  12. Maxine Tau – Principal 7th Day Adventist (Samoan)
  13. Dr Deanna Johnston – Principal Nga Iwi (Samoan)
  14. Faatili Iosua Esera – Principal Sutton Park (Samoan)
  15. Stephanie Tawha – Principal Mangere Bridge (Samoan)
  16. Barbara Alaalatoa – Principal Sylvia Park (Samoan)
  17. Corinne Hansell – Principal Stanhope Road (Samoan)
  18. Jason Swann – Principal Otahuhu Primary (Samoan)
  19. Unasa Enosa Auvaa – Principal Mt Albert (Samoan)
  20. Sepora Mauigoa – Principal Glendene (Samoan)
  21. Jenny Bernard – Principal Birdwood (Samoan)
  22. Helen Varney -Principal Target Road (CkIsland/ Samoan)
  23. Robert Solomone – Principal Alfriston College (Rotuman)
  24. Iva Ropati – Principal Howick College (Samoan)
  25. Soane Pamaka – Principal Tamaki College (Tongan)
  26. Sita Selupe – Principal Rise Up Trust (Niuean)
  27. Ala’imalo Falefatu Enari – Principal Pacific Advance Senior School (Samoan)
  28. Betty O’Brien-Andersen – Principal Creative Learning Scheme (Samoan)
  29. Toe Pune – Principal MIT Tertiary High School (Samoan)
  30. Riki Teteina – Principal Newton Central (Cook Island)
Outside of Auckland our numbers are not as high and exactly how many there are is sketchy so if you know of any please let us know – but here are the ones that we do know of: 10  (Sorry if I missed your name):
  1. Eddie Uluilelata – Principal Rangikura School (Samoan)
  2. Sose Annandale – Principal Russell School (Samoan)
  3. Judith Taylor – Principal Upper Hutt College (Cook Island)
  4. Brian Field – Principal Bethlehem School (Samoan)
  5. Geoff Siave – Principal Shirley Int School (Samoan)
  6. Sylvia Fidow – Principal West Rolleston (Samoan)
  7. Anthony Faitaua – Rowley Avenue School (Samoan)
  8. Brian Filipo – Principal Halfway Bush School (Samoan)
  9. William Ford – Principal Tokoroa College (Cook Island)
  10. Junior Togia – Principal Pembroke School (Samoan)

Dates for our Next meetings are:


NZPPA Executive:

Target Road School – North Shore – Term 1, Week 2, Friday 10 February 2017, 9:30am – 12pm


NZPPA Auckland Regional Meeting:
Stanhope Road School – Mt Wellington – Term 1, Week 4, Thursday 23 February 2016, 4pm – 6pm.