5. Question No. 5—Education (Pacific Peoples)ANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour) to the Associate Minister of Education (Pacific Peoples)Question No. 5—Education (Pacific Peoples)5. ANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour) to the Associate Minister of Education (Pacific Peoples): What recent announcement has the Government made supporting Pacific people in education following the Dawn Raids Government apology?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Associate Minister of Education (Pacific Peoples)): The formal Government apology for the Dawn Raids was held on Sunday. We announced that $2.1 million over four years would be provided in education scholarships to Pacific communities in New Zealand as part of the goodwill gestures of reconciliation for those communities impacted by the Dawn Raids. These scholarships will be known as Tulī Takes Flight scholarships. These scholarships acknowledge the importance of education for Pacific families and highlight the need to strengthen and grow Pacific education success.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: What are the details around the Tulī Takes Flight scholarships?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: Up to 12 scholarships valued between $10000 and $30000 will be available to Pacific people aged 18 and over. However to mark the inaugural year I am pleased to announce there will be a total of 30 scholarships for study or training commencing in 2022. The first round of applications opens in September 2021. The scholarships will be awarded for a minimum of one year and a maximum of three years. The scholarships are funded by the Ministry of Education and will be administered by the Pacific Education Foundation. Study or training can include vocational and academic courses at levels 4 to 10 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework certificates of diploma degree-level study and post-graduate study.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: Why is it important to support Pacific communities with these scholarships?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: These scholarships accompany the Dawn Raids Government apology and are intended to provide opportunities and support for Pacific people to pursue tertiary or vocational education to meet their goals and aspirations as confident and proud Pacific people of Aotearoa. This gesture is part of the Government's way of expressing our deepest sorrow noting that while we cannot change the past we hope that this support will help in a small way to grow and create stronger relations with Pacific peoples of Aotearoa.Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: What is the cultural significance of the tulī in relation to the Dawn Raids Government apology?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: From a Pacific perspective it is not enough to say sorry; we must mean it and demonstrate it and manifest it to be genuine and meaningful in our search to be worthy of forgiveness. The tulī is a bird known as the kuaka or the godwit. It flies 22000 kilometres non-stop from Alaska to Aotearoa and back again. The determination of the tulī is symbolic of the Pacific Aotearoa narratives of resilient people with the aspiration and determination to succeed. This is fitting in relation to how the goodwill gestures were delivered at the Dawn Raids apology with a sua talisua which are the gifts of food parcels that support the traveling party on their long journey ahead. Education is the food that will support the long journey ahead for Pacific peoples into the future of Aotearoa New Zealand.