Pasifika Caucus » Pasifika Caucus Archive 2008 | 2009

Pasifika Caucus ARCHIVE

2009 EVENTS

» Pasifika Caucus Report Feb 2009 (PDF, 24KB)

LOCAL EVENTS

The Wellington Pacific Leadership Symposium, 7‐8 December 2009, Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Porirua, Wellington. Theme: Mobilising a New Generation of Pacific Leaders in Aotearoa

» Download Flyer and application form (PDF, 741KB)

Leadership Pacific Vision: To grow 1,000 new generation Pacific leaders by 2015

On Monday 22 June 2009, members of the VUW Pacific Students Leadership Cluster (with mentors Drs Kabini Sanga and Cherie Chu) gifted to the tangata whenua (indigenous peoples) of Aotearoa New Zealand, the vision of Leadership Pacific, “to grow 1,000 New Generational Leaders by 2015”.

In our statement to the Hon Dr Pita Sharples (New Zealand Minister for Maori Affairs) we expressed our appreciation to the Indigenous People of New Zealand for their hospitality and generosity in hosting thousands of Pacific Islands students who have studied in New Zealand over the years. Copies of the book, “Living and Leaving a Legacy of Hope: Stories by New Generation Pacific Leaders” (available at USP Bookshop or Pine.Southon@vuw.ac.nz) were gifted to Dr Sharples and Hon Georgina Te Heuheu (Minister for Pacific Islands Affairs) who was also present.

As members of “Leadership Pacific”, we also expressed our hope to the Hon Ministers that students and youth of New Zealand might be inspired by the leadership stories of young Pacific Islanders.

In receiving the gifts, Dr Pita Sharples thanked the Pacific Students Leadership Cluster Members and offered his support for the vision of Leadership Pacific.

A New Generation of Pasifika Leaders

At Victoria University of Wellington, He Parekereke (Institute for Research and Development in Maori and Pacific Education) is the home for the Pacific Leadership Cluster. The Cluster was originally set up in 2006 for Pacific undergraduate students who were keen on furthering their development in leadership. In 2006, four students of Fijian, Papua New Guinean and Niuean descent were involved and the Cluster was mentored by Dr Kabini Sanga and Cherie Chu. Three years later - the Cluster now supports 40 students of varying Pacific, Asian, Maori and Pakeha ethnicities from New Zealand and from across the Pacific region. Leadership is the focus of the Cluster in reaching the vision of “growing 1000 new generation Pacific leaders by 2015”. Students are given the opportunity to participate in leadership training, organise conferences, present conference papers to international audiences, publish scholarly work in journals and books and be active in disseminating knowledge through lecture panels and graduate seminars. The students mentor each other as they meet at least once a month with the support of Pine Southon (Te Kura Maori: School Manager). The Cluster is autonomous in the sense that it has no formal funding but is supported with aroha from colleagues (Professor Wally Penetito, Dr Joanna Kidman and Dr Hazel Phillips) at He Parekereke.

New generation Pacific leaders – the Cluster!