Summary

Between June and August in 2018 we hosted 8 pan-Pacific fono in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch, Oamaru and Dunedin, as well as a series of smaller ethnic-specific and target group fono across Auckland. This included fono with parents of children with learning support needs and/or disabilities, with young adults who identify as LGBTQIA+ and with a small group of learners in alternative education and/or Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET). The focus of these fono was to have a broad conversation about what is important in education, what success looks like and what some of the ongoing challenges are. This included speaking to approximately 2,000 people with Pacific heritage across Aotearoa, New Zealand. The voice gathered throughout 2018 was a critical part of the wider Education Conversation | Kōrero Mātauranga. This means that what was shared here was not only used to guide the development of the Action Plan but was drawn on for the wider Education Work Programme – including pieces of work such as the Early Learning Action Plan 2019 – 2029, the NCEA Review and the review of Tomorrow’s Schools.

The 2019 fono, held between August and October, were held to have a more focused conversation on the design of the Action Plan. It was to confirm that what we heard last time had been reflected in the proposed focus areas for the Action Plan and to have further discussion about what success in education would look like for different Pacific learners, families and communities.  To see a full list of the 30 fono that were run across the country in 2019 and for a copy of the two activities that were undertaken at the fono go to: Action Plan for Pacific Education

If you are undertaking relevant research that you would like us to be aware of, please contact us through Pacific Education Conversation Mailbox We are particularly interested in research that looks at education relating to specific Pacific ethnic groups.