For Auckland To Succeed, Pasifika Must Succeed

MEDIA RELEASE

5 October 2012

For Auckland To Succeed, Pasifika Must Succeed

Pasifika Education In The Spotlight At Raise Pasifika Fono In Auckland

RAISE Pasifika has issued a bold statement ahead of a key fono (meeting) in Auckland next week, calling for prejudice and agendas to be put aside so education outcomes for young Pasifika people can be improved.

At their second annual fono, Halavaka ki tutavaha foou- Towards New Horizons, RAISE Pasifika will formally announce its leadership role in the formation of the inaugural Auckland Pacific Education Plan.

The RAISE Pasifika Council will also report back to the community about their work over the past year, and will also seek a mandate for the year ahead.

The aim of the fono is to attract further support, grow RAISE Pasifika’s membership base and seek a mandate for the next 12 months of work.

Current co-chairs Tafilelea Fa'avae Gagamoe and Rachel Skudder are taking the organisation forward in its second year, and are calling for strong leadership and action to tackle inequality for Pasifika learners.

Rachel Skudder says, “For Auckland to succeed, Pasifika must succeed. We need an Auckland Pacific Education Plan that addresses systemic barriers for our Pasifika young people. We need bold leadership from all levels of government, the community and the education sector to stop this continuing level of failure within our education system.”

Tafilelea Fa'avae Gagamoe says, “We know what the issues are. It is time we came together and put all our prejudices and agendas aside and concentrate on finding solutions for our children, valuing the role of the teacher and for families to take more responsibility for the education of their children.”

The former chairperson, Mrs Grace Ikiua, led RAISE Pasifika in its first year and now steps aside.

RAISE Pasifika education fono, 9am-4pm, Wednesday 10 October 2012, Auckland War Memorial Museum Events Centre.

Notes for editor:

RAISE Pasifika is an apolitical, independent volunteer organisation and a credible voice for Pasifika in the field of education in Auckland. RAISE aims to support and enhance educational outcomes for young Pasifika people living in Auckland through leadership and collaboration.

Some of the RAISE Pasifika highlights of the last year include:

• Working with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs on the national Pacific Education Plan.
• Submissions to government select committees on the Auckland Plan, TEC Pacific Strategy, Digital Literacy and Bilingual Education and the Importance of Pasifika Languages.
• Involvement and selection of RAISE Pasifika Council representatives on various think tanks, Early Childhood, and Tertiary Education work streams.
• Established RAISE Pasifika Inc. as an Incorporated Society.

RAISE Pasifika’s focus is on building an effective education system for Pasifika in Auckland.

Auckland has the largest Pasifika population in the world, and by 2031 Pasifika and Māori will make up half of the new labour force, so there is an economic, social and cultural imperative that the Pasifika community be engaged and succeeding in education in Tāmaki Makaurau.

The RAISE Pasifika Council would like to thank the following organisations for assisting with the fono:

• The Auckland War Memorial Museum for its support in providing the Events Centre

• The Ministry of Pacific Islands Affairs

• Aviation, Tourism and Travel Training Organisation (ATTTO)

• COMET Auckland

ENDS

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