“The biggest challenge was being in a cultural abyss, growing up in a little rural town, where I was the only Pacific brown kid who wasn’t Māori.” — Dr Tania Mullane, on being adopted by a Pākehā family.
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“The underachievement and disengagement of Pacific students is like the tangled net that needs to be untangled. Through effective leadership, I believe we’ll find solutions that can untangle those issues.” — Dr Tufulasi Taleni.
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“In Sāmoa, our people are the doctors, the lawyers, the prime ministers. I’ve grown up always surrounded by our people being educated, being in leadership.” — Dr Emma Dunlop-Bennett, assistant vice-chancellor (Pasifika), Te Herenga Waka–Victoria University of Wellington.
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“I still have James’s letter. It became my conscience. It reminded me not to walk away from something I should be fixing. He asked me to come back, and I didn’t.” — Professor Welby Ings remembers a seven-year-old student he had taught in Ōtara 50 years ago.
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“He knows he’s different. And not in a ‘celebrate diversity’ kind of way, but in a way that feels like he doesn’t belong. And that cuts deep, for him and us.” — Dahlia Malaeulu, on navigating the school system when your child has autism.
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“Discussion about racism and teaching tends to focus on structural racism, as if the system is a force in and of itself, rather than an apparatus administered by humans, making discretionary decisions about Māori students daily.“ — Anton Blank.
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“We can’t just be about teaching and learning, as the Education Act dictates. We’ll never break the cycle for our young people if we don’t go outside our little school box. I can’t say that enough.” — Soana Pamaka, principal of Tāmaki College.
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“It seems that after a run of good years, we’re moving backwards. And all the progress that had been made by those who came before me for equity and inclusion of Pacific is set to be undermined and undone.” — Petra Satele, PhD student and assistant lecturer at Massey.
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“Beneath the frequent microaggressions and low expectations is the undeniable disconnect between the Poly students and the rest of the school. Leaving us constantly feeling isolated, put down, and out of place.” — Sabina Misa.
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“If a kid comes to school and they’re hungry, then feed them. If they’re cold, give them a jacket. We’re not here to judge parents.” — Karl Vasau.
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