19/12/2018
'Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari he toa takitini'
(I come not with my own strengths but bring with me the gifts, talents and strengths of my family, tribe and ancestors)
Garth Wieser, Anton O'Carroll, Nicola Panapa & Dayna Eggeling- Our Māori staff of Te Pūtahi Atawhai, that quote echoes all sentiments of what life has been like working with you. You each have come with different strengths and brought this to the table along with your strong whakapapa- Idenity and your own individual personalities....
As we all pause and take time to reflect on 17 years since Te Pūtahi Atawhai (formerly known as Manaaki Pihipihinga) service first opened for students. For some of our colleagues at TPA we have worked for over half of those 17 years and a little more here in this beautiful whānau space supporting and cheering our biggest champions- (STUDENTS)
This week the Te Pūtahi Atawhai Pasifika whānau Sera Vatuloka, Kalo Afeaki, Jenny Taotua and Fa'amatuāinu Nonoa (Manager) held a precious Fijiian ceremony (ITatau) to farewell and wish our whānau (V.I.P) well on their new journey in 2019 as they depart from our whānau space in Student Union to join the newly established Āwhina (Māori support) team which will be based out of Te Herenga Waka Marae from Jan 7th.
There will also be the new Pacific Support Team which will be running as of January 7th from the former Te Pūtahi Atawhai space (SU Level 2). More details to come in the new year for current students.
The ITatau Ceremony was led by Maciu Raivoka (VUW Staff and well respected member of the Fijiian community in Wellington) as well as our long time friend of TPA and husband of Sera Vatuloka (Timoce Vatuloka) began the formalities with words of encouragement, love and thanks to our Māori Aiga.
Our team were then presented with Garlands of 'Aroha', 'Respect' and 'Gratitude' from the Pasifika Team. Then the Kava Ceremony- The highest honor to show our respect to our Māori staff who have worked tirelessly throughout the many years with us side by side.
It has been an amazing journey for our whānau of Te Pūtahi Atawhai. Working side by side and doing the mahi to ensure ALL Māori and Pasifika students including our Mentors get the best service possible.
Thank you for your leadership, Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the kaupapa. We appreciate you all, we acknowledge our Tangata Whēnua always in this space that we created together with Pasifika.
Whilst you leave us, we echo the words that Chief Maciu Raivoka said yesterday in the ceremony, in that we are not separating but rather we still remain like a double Hull canoe where we sail alongside each other, we all are heading in the same direction towards the same destination, how we get there will be different along the way, there will be bumps, challenges, but at the same time with Positivity, perseverance, resilience and aroha for one another we will reach the destination together- and that is to see Māori and Pasifika students succeed to the best of their ability and graduate.
We love you Garth, Anton, Dayna and Nicola💜💜💜
Thank you for being apart of the journey together!
'O le fogāva'a e tasi'- One Family!
'Good colleagues are those who know that WE is more powerful than ME'
