title: Fononga 'A Fakahalafononga: Tongan Students' Journey to Academic Achievement in New Zealand Tertiary Education

authors: Kalavite, Telesia

subjects: Tongan Education in New Zealand

abstract: There is a national concern in New Zealand about the low academic achievement of Pasifika students, including the Tongans as one of the specific groups. The literature shows that the problems associated with the academic achievement of Pasifika students derive from the cultural differences between Pasifika and the dominant Pālangi culture. Since Tonga has a unique culture that is not the same as any other cultural group in the Pacific, this research set out to explore specific Tongan socio-cultural aspects that impact on Tongan students’ academic achievement in New Zealand tertiary education. Culturally specific aspects that impact on Tongan students’ academic achievement could better inform those who are concerned with the education of Tongans in New Zealand. The purpose of the research is to explore possibilities for enhancing the academic achievement of Tongan students that could bridge the disparity between Pasifika and Pālangi academic achievement. This research used a Tongan, Pasifika, qualitative, phenomenological, ethnographical, methodological framework to explore the views of twenty five Tongan-born participants in New Zealand on the perceived socio-cultural aspects that impact on their academic achievement. It provided opportunities for the participants to reflect on their experiences as university and polytechnic students, as staff and educators, and as parents. Sociocultural, postmodernism, and the Tongan tā-vā, (time-space) theory of reality were used to interpret the Tongan students’ inter-cultural learning experiences at two levels of reality; the students’ realities, and the global realities. The students’ realities include their individual attitudes and choices based on their cultural worldviews that impact on their academic achievement. The global realities include the trends of postmodernism, biculturalism, multiculturalism, globalisation and change which are beyond the students’ control. The key findings of this research were that Tongan students perceived they were academically successful when all parties involved had a deep and mutual understanding of, respect for, and practice in, both Tongan and New Zealand social and academic cultures. In particular, the Tongan students and their Tongan supporters need a deep and mutual understanding of, respect for, and practice in, their own Tongan as well as New Zealand social and academic relationships. New Zealanders who are involved with Tongan students’ education need a deep and mutual understanding of, respect for, and practice in, Tongan social and academic relationships. Furthermore, flexibility within the two cultural relationships in terms of tā (time) and vā (space) should be considered by all parties to release social tensions and consequently enhance academic achievement. This two way process allows Tongan students to move fluidly within the two cultures, especially if they understand how tā (time) and vā (space) are manifested in relationships within their learning environments. This research is highly relevant for anyone concerned with Tongan students’ academic achievement in New Zealand tertiary education; from the top level policy makers in the government to the Tongan students at the grassroots level.

text: Fononga 'A Fakahalafononga: Tongan Students' Journey to Academic Achievement in New Zealand Tertiary Education There is a national concern in New Zealand about the low academic achievement of Pasifika students, including the Tongans as one of the specific groups. The literature shows that the problems associated with the academic achievement of Pasifika students derive from the cultural differences between Pasifika and the dominant Pālangi culture. Since Tonga has a unique culture that is not the same as any other cultural group in the Pacific, this research set out to explore specific Tongan socio-cultural aspects that impact on Tongan students’ academic achievement in New Zealand tertiary education. Culturally specific aspects that impact on Tongan students’ academic achievement could better inform those who are concerned with the education of Tongans in New Zealand. The purpose of the research is to explore possibilities for enhancing the academic achievement of Tongan students that could bridge the disparity between Pasifika and Pālangi academic achievement. This research used a Tongan, Pasifika, qualitative, phenomenological, ethnographical, methodological framework to explore the views of twenty five Tongan-born participants in New Zealand on the perceived socio-cultural aspects that impact on their academic achievement. It provided opportunities for the participants to reflect on their experiences as university and polytechnic students, as staff and educators, and as parents. Sociocultural, postmodernism, and the Tongan tā-vā, (time-space) theory of reality were used to interpret the Tongan students’ inter-cultural learning experiences at two levels of reality; the students’ realities, and the global realities. The students’ realities include their individual attitudes and choices based on their cultural worldviews that impact on their academic achievement. The global realities include the trends of postmodernism, biculturalism, multiculturalism, globalisation and change which are beyond the students’ control. The key findings of this research were that Tongan students perceived they were academically successful when all parties involved had a deep and mutual understanding of, respect for, and practice in, both Tongan and New Zealand social and academic cultures. In particular, the Tongan students and their Tongan supporters need a deep and mutual understanding of, respect for, and practice in, their own Tongan as well as New Zealand social and academic relationships. New Zealanders who are involved with Tongan students’ education need a deep and mutual understanding of, respect for, and practice in, Tongan social and academic relationships. Furthermore, flexibility within the two cultural relationships in terms of tā (time) and vā (space) should be considered by all parties to release social tensions and consequently enhance academic achievement. This two way process allows Tongan students to move fluidly within the two cultures, especially if they understand how tā (time) and vā (space) are manifested in relationships within their learning environments. This research is highly relevant for anyone concerned with Tongan students’ academic achievement in New Zealand tertiary education; from the top level policy makers in the government to the Tongan students at the grassroots level.

year: 2010

title: Obituary − Emeritus Professor Dr John Davidson McCraw (1925−2014) MBE, MSc NZ, DSc Well, CRSNZ, FNZSSS.

authors: Tonkin, Philip J.

abstract: John McCraw was an Earth scientist who began working as a pedologist with Soil Bureau, DSIR, then became the Foundation Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, inspiring a new generation to study and work in Earth sciences . In retirement, John McCraw was an author and historian with a special emphasis on Central Otago as well as the Waikato region. Throughout his career, marked especially by exemplary leadership, accomplished administration, and commitment to his staff and students at the University of Waikato, John McCraw also contributed to the communities in which he lived through public service organizations and as a public speaker. He received a number of awards including an MBE, fellowship, and companionship, and, uniquely, is commemorated also with a glacier, a fossil, and a museum-based research room named for him. Emeritus Professor John McCraw passed away on the 14th of December, 2014. An obituary, entitled “Dedicated to earth science and his students”, was published in the Waikato Times on the 10th of January, 2015.

text: Obituary − Emeritus Professor Dr John Davidson McCraw (1925−2014) MBE, MSc NZ, DSc Well, CRSNZ, FNZSSS. John McCraw was an Earth scientist who began working as a pedologist with Soil Bureau, DSIR, then became the Foundation Professor of Earth Sciences at the University of Waikato in Hamilton, inspiring a new generation to study and work in Earth sciences . In retirement, John McCraw was an author and historian with a special emphasis on Central Otago as well as the Waikato region. Throughout his career, marked especially by exemplary leadership, accomplished administration, and commitment to his staff and students at the University of Waikato, John McCraw also contributed to the communities in which he lived through public service organizations and as a public speaker. He received a number of awards including an MBE, fellowship, and companionship, and, uniquely, is commemorated also with a glacier, a fossil, and a museum-based research room named for him. Emeritus Professor John McCraw passed away on the 14th of December, 2014. An obituary, entitled “Dedicated to earth science and his students”, was published in the Waikato Times on the 10th of January, 2015.

year: 2015-03-06

title: Te Kāuta

authors: Roa, Raukura

subjects: Kōrero paki

abstract: He rite tonu tā mātou hokihoki ki te take o Pirongia maunga, ki te tutungi i te ahi kā i Pūrekireki Marae. Ia wā ka hoki mātou ki tēnei o ngā marae, ka hīkaka taku ngākau, i te mea, ko taku mahi i reira, he tiaki ahi. Ao noa, pō noa, ko au te kaiwhakatutungi i te ahi o te kāuta, kei kewa. Ko te ahi o te kāuta o Pūrekireki marae, he ahi nui, he ahi kaitā. E ono tāngata pea ka uru ki te rua o te ahi nei. Nō reira, ko taku mahi i te rā, he kohi rākau i waho, he tapahi wahie, he whakamaroke anō hoki i te wahie, inā mākū i te ua. I ngā pō, kia hoki rā anō te iwi ki te moe, ko tāku, he noho ki roto i te kāuta me te tutungi ahi, kia wera tonu ai te wai mō āpōpō. Kei pōhēhē mai, he mahi mokemoke tēnei! Ehara! Ia pō, ka noho mai aku kuia ki taku taha ki te pahupahu. He nui ngā akoranga me ngā mātauranga i tuku iho mai ki a au i roto i tērā kāuta, i te taha o tērā ahi. Me uaua ka kitea tēnei momo ahi kaitā i ngā marae i ēnei rā. Kāore e whakaaengia ana e ngā ture Pākehā ngā ahi kaitā, pēnei nei te rahi, i roto i ngā kāuta o ngā marae; ‘Health and Safety Standards’ tā rātou i whakatau ai. Nō reira, i karangangia e taku pāpā tētehi hui ki te marae kia wānangahia te whakahōutanga o tō mātou kāuta. Nō taku rongotanga ake i te kaupapa o tēnei hui, ka tangi taku ngākau ki tō mātou kāuta. Nō reira, i whakarite ahau kia haere i tana taha.

text: Te Kāuta He rite tonu tā mātou hokihoki ki te take o Pirongia maunga, ki te tutungi i te ahi kā i Pūrekireki Marae. Ia wā ka hoki mātou ki tēnei o ngā marae, ka hīkaka taku ngākau, i te mea, ko taku mahi i reira, he tiaki ahi. Ao noa, pō noa, ko au te kaiwhakatutungi i te ahi o te kāuta, kei kewa. Ko te ahi o te kāuta o Pūrekireki marae, he ahi nui, he ahi kaitā. E ono tāngata pea ka uru ki te rua o te ahi nei. Nō reira, ko taku mahi i te rā, he kohi rākau i waho, he tapahi wahie, he whakamaroke anō hoki i te wahie, inā mākū i te ua. I ngā pō, kia hoki rā anō te iwi ki te moe, ko tāku, he noho ki roto i te kāuta me te tutungi ahi, kia wera tonu ai te wai mō āpōpō. Kei pōhēhē mai, he mahi mokemoke tēnei! Ehara! Ia pō, ka noho mai aku kuia ki taku taha ki te pahupahu. He nui ngā akoranga me ngā mātauranga i tuku iho mai ki a au i roto i tērā kāuta, i te taha o tērā ahi. Me uaua ka kitea tēnei momo ahi kaitā i ngā marae i ēnei rā. Kāore e whakaaengia ana e ngā ture Pākehā ngā ahi kaitā, pēnei nei te rahi, i roto i ngā kāuta o ngā marae; ‘Health and Safety Standards’ tā rātou i whakatau ai. Nō reira, i karangangia e taku pāpā tētehi hui ki te marae kia wānangahia te whakahōutanga o tō mātou kāuta. Nō taku rongotanga ake i te kaupapa o tēnei hui, ka tangi taku ngākau ki tō mātou kāuta. Nō reira, i whakarite ahau kia haere i tana taha.

year: 2016