The New Zealand charitable trust Fale Pasifika says Pacific people in New Zealand's far north need spaces where they can practice their culture.
Ligimamilli Pakieto Johnstone from the Fale Pasifika charitiable trust. Photo: Supplied
The Whangarei-based trust was one of 16 winners of this year's Toloa Awards from the Ministry of Pacific Peoples, which encourage participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics careers.
Fale Pasifika's Ligimamilli Pakieto Johnstone who is Niuean-Maori, said there were pockets of Pacific communities, including people from Tuvalu, Kiribati, Tonga and Fiji, who were trying to establish themselves north of Auckland.
"Bring our culture...a place where they can practise their siva, their weaving," she said.
"Everything remotely Pasifika we want them to be able to practise. To just live in the culture and just breathe in the culture."
Group winners:
Auckland Tokelau Society Incorporated - STEM Fono
Coconut Wireless - Coding club
Fale Pasifika - STEM project workshop
Faith City Trust Board - STEM workshop
GirlBoss New Zealand - STEM focused workshop
New Zealand Tongan Tertiary Students Association - STEM Talanoa - students and parents
South Pacific Professional Engineering Excellence - Engineering Expo
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust - STEM Expo & Workshop
Vahefonua Tonga Methodist Mission Trust - Tongan Song and Animation technology development
Tertiary scholarships:
Daniel Fruean (AUT) - Doctor of Philosophy in Computer & Information Service
Sunny Tavite (AUT) - Mater of Analytics (Mathematics
Fuli Fuli (UOA) - Doctor of Philosophy in Computer & Information Science
Fiapaipai Auapaau (AUT) - Master of Science
Recipients in the central region will be rewarded when the awards are held in Wellington on March 18 while the South Island winners will be recognised in Christchurch on March 25.
