Tula’i Pasifika youth leadership programme developing leaders

06 September 2022

For the past ten years, the Tula’i Pasifika Youth Leadership programme has been inspiring young Pacific people to become better leaders, with the University of Auckland stepping up this year to provide support.

In July this year, some 50 students from eight West Auckland high schools graduated from the programme which has been designed to encourage its young participants to maintain a strong sense of their Pacific identity, while at the same time preparing them to pathway into further study or mahi should they choose that path.

Waipapa Taumata Rau Student Development and Engagement Manager (Arts), Siaosi George Gavet was instrumental in establishing the programme and is still a key person in its ongoing development.

“It can be hard transitioning from high school to tertiary study, and this is particularly true for Pacific students who can have a whole range of additional challenges. These include often being first in family to enrol at university, or having family pressure to succeed or even their own imposter syndrome – having a sense that they don’t quite belong or have the right to belong in the palagi tertiary system. Of course not everyone will go on to further study but this programme gives the students a good foundation to build on when making decisions for their future”.

During the school year, students take part in eight youth development modules, two community service events during the school holidays and a youth camp before the main event – graduation. Tula’i coordinator Michelle Buchan says the programme provides an open space for students to be themselves and talk openly about their experiences.

“There’s lots of issues our youth deal with, like bullying, or not feeling like they can necessarily talk to their parents at times. This programme encourages them to form a real brother/sisterhood, and they have each other’s backs. They’ve just really united.”

I love coming to the programme. I have made heaps of new friends. It helped me find a place where I belong instead of being in whitewashed community and school

Tula'i student

Tula’i (Samoan for Stand) is funded through a joint-local-board approach – Henderson-Massey, Waitakere Ranges, and Whau local boards, and governed by a community-based charitable trust, West Auckland Pasifika Forum Community Trust. It’s delivered by a range of agencies such as Youth Horizons, Kia Puawai and New Zealand Police with the inclusion this year of the University of Auckland’s Schools and Community Engagement Team.

Student feedback also shows that connection is an important part of their experience and they appreciate the process they go through via the Tula’i programme.

“I love coming to the programme. I have made heaps of new friends. It helped me find a place where I belong instead of being in whitewashed community and school. I have especially enjoyed the guest speakers. When we had the Polynesian Panthers visit and they told us their story. Like what happened to our Pacific communities over the past decades and how we have been treated. The Polynesian Panthers helped me understand the definition of who we are as people and it’s helped me to embrace who I am as a Pasifika young man” explains one male student.

When we had the Polynesian Panthers and told us their story, what happened to our Pacific communities over the past decades, how we have been treated and that we do not fit in with everything else. The Polynesian Panthers helped me understand the definition of who we are as people and it’s helped me to embrace who I am as a Pasifika.

The point of difference and one of the main reasons Tula’i has been so successful is that the programme is student led and is run by past students returning to mentor current ones.

Media queries

Emmaline Pickering-Martin
Media Advisor, Pacific
Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland
E: emmaline.pickering-martin@auckland.ac.nz
M: 027 282 4654