Mana o te whenua - Moana

With a first glance at a map of the Pacific Ocean we see a vast expanse of water with a multitude of atols, islands and nations dotted throughout, like stars in the night sky.

When we look closer we start to find the connections between that form a constellation of relationships, the pathways that bring people together, traditional navigated wayfaring routes guided by extensive celestial knowledge, familiarity with the waves, tides and winds. We start to see the modern trade routes and understand the intergenerational connections the Pacific nations have with each other and with us in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Pacific is home to a wealth of cultures, languages, and diverse landscapes. From the rocky atols where the rising sea levels risk the loss of entire ways of life, to the lush mountain ranges and volcanoes that dot throughout the Pacific ring of fire. Large ports with multinational industry bases and global impact through to the family based along a white sand beach protected by a coral lagoon.

In Aotearoa we are privileged to have a growing Pacific Island population, a wealth of Pacific educators and akonga. Our schools and early learning centres are places where Pacific pedagogies and knowledge should be valued and embraced.

This Rauhuia Terenga Huihuinga | Symposium explores Pacific Perspectives on leadership. Our presenters, Michelle Johansson and Melanie Cottingham will share their thoughts on how we can connect with other leaders and traverse the vast oceans between our unique contexts in education.

We would love to have you join us for an afternoon session online, a chance to listen to our presenters share their own Pacific educational leadership perspectives and discuss your thoughts with other members of the profession.

Michelle Johansson

Michelle is a Tongan mother, theatre-maker, and educator. She serves as Kaitiaki at Ako Mātātupu: Teach First NZ, growing exceptional people to teach in low-decile schools. She is Kaiwhakahaere at Māia Centre for Social Justice and Education and the Creative Director of the Black Friars. South Auckland, decile-one born and bred, she is proud to work alongside amazing teachers, warriors, storytellers, and change-makers to re-story Pasifika in the largest Polynesian city in the world, to activate indigenous knowledges, to grow future leaders, and to hold courageous spaces for our young people to walk tall in all of their worlds.

Melanie Cottingham

Melanie’s passion for Pacific education stems from her education experience. She commenced primary school in Rarotonga, then Wellington. She boarded at a private girls’ college in the Wairarapa and travelled to Tuvalu for Christmas holidays. She attended university, completing her Bachelor of Management Degree, and travelled to Niue for Christmas holidays.

Melanie has leadership experience in the public and private sectors, and also tertiary and Primary (Kura Auraki, Reo Rua and TESOL in Seoul) teaching experience. She is currently completing her Masters. Melanie is the chairperson of the Pasifika in the Bay Trust in Tauranga Moana. The indigenous Pacific trust delivers programmes to support teachers and senior leadership in Early Childhood Centres and Schools to enact the Action Plan for Pacific Education 2020-2030 and Tapasā: Cultural competencies framework for teachers of Pacific learners.