ISSU E
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WI NTE R 2013
PACIFIC STUDENTS NEWSLETTER
Pasifika PRIDE this issue Destination SUCCESS 2
Pasifika Academic
Falarazzi 3
Student
Pacific Pathways 4
Success (PASS)
Scholarship Success 5
Fakaalofa lahi atu
A Gift for Life 6
Warm Whitireia greetings &
Building CAREERS 7
welcome to our winter issue of Pasifika PRIDE; our Pacific
A chat with DON 8
students newsletter. In it you will find a collection of stories that showcase Pacific related happenings this year. As we
NIU Health Building.
celebrate Matariki (the Maori New Year) I wish you the best
New & returning health students at the
in your studies and encourage
Porirua Campus, started the academic
you to access the student
year in a new purpose built health
services available to support your academic journey. New beginnings to those of you who are moving on. God Bless! Kia Monuina Leisha Williams
building. The “state of the art” building houses impressive features including laboratories, world-class simulation suites and centrally located learning streets for self directed study. An official ceremony was held on 20 March with the Minister of Health Tony Ryall opening
Bachelor of Applied Arts students at the official opening
the new building. The striking building, named after celebrated war time nurse Wikitoria Katene, gathers all Faculty of Health programmes under the same roof, with staff in open work spaces. New students are particularly chuffed at being able to start their training in the new building. Health students in the new simulation suite
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Destination SUCCESS Your Passport to EXCELLENCE– an orientation programme for Pacific students to support their transition to tertiary study.
CE Don Campbell & Faculty of Health students
A new pre-orientation was offered to
them to identify their goals for their year
Pacific Community
new Pacific students at the beginning of 2013 to start the academic year.
and strategies to achieve them. CE Don Campbell attended to
Liaison
Destination Success began a week before the official start date to help
introduce himself and meet the newbees. He provided great inspiration
students orient themselves to tertiary study. Interactive workshops were held
from his own journey and participants appreciated his advice and guidance.
for students from the different faculties
At the end of the workshops, students
with & developing strong links
to help them learn about life at Whitireia and connect with other Pacific
were challenged to attend follow up PolyPrep lunchtime workshops to meet
with our Pacific communities.
students & key Pacific staff. The aim was to help students to
other Student Success services & help them transition into study at Whitireia.
develop the skills required to succeed in tertiary study. The programme is the
On the completion of these workshops students received a free PolyPrep
brainchild of the Pacific Community
t-shirt. These were presented at a BBQ
Tevita Finau– Tonga
Liaison team and Pasifika Academic Student Success Advisor who
and celebration for all participants and their families. Students revealed that
Tupe Lualua– Samoa
facilitated the workshops with other key staff. Students threw themselves into
the programme helped them feel part of Whitireia and build important
the interactive workshops that required
relationships with students and staff.
Destination Success- Faculty of Arts & Faculty of Business/ IT
Team The Pacific Community Liaison team is responsible for engaging
Veronica Vaovasa– Co-ordinator Helen Kisona– Tokelau Advisor Tuaine Robati– Cook Islands
The team also liaises with the Fiji, Niue and Tuvalu communities & other Pacific people.
Fiercely proud Pacific Trades students show their pacific loyalty
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EYE ON IT AKO AKEIndustry Current
Study Space Ako Ake is a study space for Pacific & Maori students. The room is located behind the Wikitoria Katene block, off Entrance 4 at Porirua Campus. Students can access the room until 11pm during the week, while weekend hours are until 6pm by swipe card. The offices of the Pacific & Maori Academic Success Advisors are next door. The study space allows students to engage in study in a family friendly environment. Students are asked to respect the study space and always clean up after use.
Whitireia’s new Pacific nurses
FALARAZZI Pacific Students Graduation Celebration Island lei, Polynesian dress & beautiful people sparkled at the Falarazzi event; a celebration for our Pacific graduates. Held the night before the official March graduation, the much awaited event gives Pacific students, their family and the wider community the opportunity to celebrate in
Performing Arts graduates
a Pacific way.
cess ork Suc Social W
Post-graduate Professionals
Early Childhood Education teachers
Faculty of Business and IT students with Programme Manager Christopher Stachowski
Artistic Achievers Feterika Sao &Aiga Maiava
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PACIFIC PATHWAYS March Graduation
Bachelor of Nursing Pacific lovelies
Rachel Telea (NZ Diploma in Business) & friends
Aiga Maiava is congratulated by her sister Talamai
Flower power Limasene Maila & Pepe Fereti
Bachelor of Applied Arts (Performing Arts)
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WHITIREIA FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS The Whitireia Foundation offers a number of scholarships for students to study at Whitireia. The scholarships provide financial assistance for tuition fees (unless otherwise specified). Applicants must demonstrate a genuine desire to succeed in their studies, financial circumstances and Whitireia Foundation Scholarship Pacific recipients
SCHOLARSHIP SUCCESS
personal achievement.
Whitireia Secondary School Leaver Fees SCHOLARSHIPS
A number of Pacific students have been successful in achieving
who achieved the Whitireia Secondary School Leaver fees Scholarships.
scholarships this year to support their study costs. A presentation ceremony
Students pathwaying straight from secondary school are supported in their
was held for students who received the Whitireia Foundation Scholarships.
first year of study at Whitireia. Pacific recipient Ariel Baker from Aotea College
selected secondary schools in
Fifty students were awarded the
is in her first year of the Bachelor of
Kāpiti Coast areas. Each
scholarships, ranging from $500 to $3000. The Whitireia Foundation offers
Teaching (Early Childhood Education) and shared that “My experience so far
scholarship is valued up to
scholarships to new and existing students, based on merit and
has been amazing, the support for Maori & Pacific students is fantastic”.
costs for the first year of study,
perseverance to succeed in spite of personal circumstances. Applications
We encourage you all to investigate scholarship opportunities that exist to
are available in October each year.
help you meet the costs of tertiary study.
Whitireia offers scholarships to Northern Wellington, Porirua &
$4,000 & assists with tuition in a multi-year diploma or degree programme
A second ceremony was held for those
Ariel Baker with Leisha Williams & Leautuli’ilagi Sauvao
Sheppard Family Scholarship recipients with their sponsors Lana & Tim Sheppard
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Professional Development
SHAVE FOR A CURE Shave for a Cure is the Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand’s (LBC’s) signature fundraising event. 6 Kiwis are diagnosed every day with a blood cancer or related blood condition. Each year hundreds of Kiwis become Shavees to raise money for patients and their families living with Blood Cancer or a similar condition. This year 2819 people joined up to Shave for a Cure, branding clippers and scissors to chop off their tresses for this worthwhile cause.
Uputaua Matagi with partner John and her support team
A GIFT FOR LIFE
Rapunzel Rapunzel Shave off your hair!
After many years of long hair,
took the big step, cutting off her long
Uputaua Matagi made the ultimate sacrifice, shaving her hair as part of this
ponytail, to the cheers of the supportive crowd. As their heads were shaved MC
years Shave for a Cure campaign. Uputaua felt it fitting to hold the
Tama Kirikiri encouraged onlookers to donate. An impressive $1321 was raised.
Sha-vent at Whitireia, where she is in the last year of her nursing studies.
Combined with other pledges, this far surpassed Uputaua’s $1000.00 target.
Joined by her partner John, Uputaua
This placed her well on the individuals
shaved off her hair in front of an enthusiastic lunch time crowd. With the
leaderboard. Uputaua was overwhelmed by the support she received from students
help of her close Bachelor of Nursing friends and Hairdressing staff Upu
and is grateful to Whitireia students and staff who supported her cause.
Dancing DUO Samoa Performing Arts students Andy Tilo and Callum Sefo have returned from a 9- centre tour of North American with contemporary dance troupe Black Grace. In their third year of the Bachelor of Applied Arts (Performing Arts), the pair undertook internships in December, under the direction of renowned Samoa choreographer Neil Ieremia and were then selected to tour with the dance troupe to the USA. After their return to New Zealand they performed to sell out crowds in Wanaka, Queenstown and Invercargill. The experience with Black Grace has strengthened the pairs passion for contemporary dance. The pair will next travel to France in July with Whitireia Performing arts. Au revoir!
Black Grace pe
rformers A ndy
Tilo & Callu
m Sefo
facebook.com/ Whitireia Pacific Success
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Building CAREERS Pasifika Trades Training Scholarships is a government- led training initiative that grants scholarships to members of the Pacific community. The Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild Team & Pasifika Trades
The Pasifika Trades training is a government led scholarship initiative delivered in collaboration between Whitireia, WelTec and Pacific Church ministers. For the second year the scheme offered scholarship places on the Certificate in Carpentry, Certificate in Plumbing, Drainlaying, Gasfitting & Roofing, Certificate in Civil Construction Introductory Skills and Certificate in Electrical Engineering programmes. Students are identified and nominated by their Church Ministers or Community leaders, then together with the tertiary provider they select recipients. In January, Pasifika Trades Training graduates Tufou Aitogi & Pat Palepua responded to an opportunity to work in Samoa. They joined WelTec tutor Ken Hodge and three WelTec graduates working with the Samoa Water
Graduates of the Pasifika Trades Training initiative with Whitireia Deputy CE Lawrence Arps & Rev Patrick Fenika
Authority post Cyclone Evan. The pair put their new skills towards a much needed cause. A celebration, hosted by the Samoa Ministers Fraternal, was held to celebrate the graduation of the 2012 Pasifika Trades training students and welcome the new 2013 recipients. The community congratulated the graduates and wished them the best as they start their trades careers. This year 40 Pacific students received the Pasifika Trades Training scholarship at Whitireia.
Whitireia Trades Pasifika Trades Scholarships graduates Pat Palepua & Tufou Aitogi before they left for Samoa
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A chat with DON Warm greetings to all Pacific students. I trust that despite the cold snap you are all enjoying your time at Whitireia and that you are achieving success in your chosen programme of study. 2013 has proven to be a productive year for Whitireia with many successes for students and staff. I am pleased to share that our education performance (EPIs) for 2012, Whitireia ranked 3rd in New Zealand for course completion and qualification completion for all polytechnics – a great result. Whitireia is recognised as a leading
provider of tertiary education for culturally diverse communities. This is reflected in the growth and achievements of students from Māori, Pacific and international origin. The Pacific Strategy envisions that Pacific students enrolled in Whitireia programmes will achieve their educational goals as successfully as, or better than any other group studying at Whitireia. I look forward to the rest of 2013 as we continue to lead and illuminate our communities through tertiary education.
Don Campbell Chief Executive
Whitireia LIFE
PolyPrep BBQ & Celebration
Feterika Sao & fellow graduate
Harlem Shake Whitireia Stylez
Destination Success- Faculty of Service Industries
