New Zealand’s oldest Pasifika Education

Is New Zealand’s oldest Pasifika Education Centre doomed?

The battle to save New Zealand’s oldest Pacific community education provider could be drawing to a close.

The Pasifika Education Centre in Papatoetoe was founded in 1974 to help educate the country’s rising Pacific Island population. 

Last year it secured $763,000 funding through the Tertiary Education Commission which is guaranteed through until December 31 this year.

But there have been no assurances the funding will continue. 

Labour’s Pacific Island Affairs spokesperson William Sio says a lack of funding will mean the battle to save the centre could be lost and it might have to close in December.

“In a written question I asked the Pacific Peoples Minister Sam Lotu-Iiga whether he would put a bid in for more money. His answer was a blunt no,” Sio says. 

“Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga says the PEC will develop a strategy that focuses on Pasifika language and culture. Such a strategy will be meaningless without the $700,000 operational funding that’s needed to deliver it.

“It’s tragic that a centre that is close to the heart of Pacific people could be allowed to wither away.”

Sio says the minister seems to have become “so disconnected from the role PEC plays in promoting Pasifika languages and culture that he now refuses to fund it”.

But Lotu-Iiga says he supports “any initiatives” which promote Pacific language and culture.
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“PEC and the Tertiary Education Commission are working together to develop a long-term sustainable model to provide community-based Pasifika language and cultural education.

“I understand PEC is in discussions with the Manukau Institute of Technology about a future partnership.

“Learning Pacific languages is encouraged in the New Zealand curriculum from early childhood education through to secondary school.”

Pasifika Education Centre board chairman Sai Lealea says it’s “business as usual” at the centre.

“With support of government officials, we are still working to develop a long-term strategy focused on Pacific languages and cultural education. 

“The Government can continue to consider PEC’s future funding when the strategy has been finalised.”

The most widely spoken language in New Zealand is English, followed by te reo Maori and Samoan. 

Go to pacificislandeducation.co.nz for more information on PEC.

-stuff