You are here:
- Home >
- Media gallery >
- Talanoa Ako >
- Rev. Tevita Finau QSM
Reverend Tevita Finau calls for an education system that recognises a range of student gifts and provides opportunities for learners to discover, explore, and build off their strengths. He touches on the importance of family, identity, culture, and keeping the language alive.
Transcript
Transcript
Malo e lelei. My name is Tevita Finau. I am a minister of the Methodist Church based in Northcote, North Shore in Auckland. I come from the village of Nukunuku. I am married to my wife, Valeti Finau. We have three adult children and some seven grandchildren.
I'm involved in social service of the Tongan Synod or the Vahefonua Tonga of the Methodist Church of New Zealand. We have various initiatives and education is one of the initiatives or Ako Lelei. There is the under achievement, there are also who drop out you know, at schools with no qualifications also very difficult for some of the students to make up their mind what career they would take. And not only that but we are very glad with you know, some improvements example, the addition of that Tongan language at all levels up to tertiary level in some of the tertiary institutes and also education, you know what for? People are asking and now wondering what are we being educated for? But is it to get a job? Or is it to enlighten your mind or to find a living? You know, all of those issues. And so there comes employment there comes also your career path, whatever. And also a good education would help you, survive here in New Zealand and also anywhere in the world. Very important. And a testimony that for example, the Methodist Church here in all kinds ... the Tongan sector, we do have five or six early childhood education centres. And there are barriers of course, we feel the home-based, education initiatives that's cause a lot of problems in terms of enrolments. But we are trying to convince parents that in the long run the students are better prepared to continue in the process to primary school. If they do attend early childhood centres. And of course, they teach the Tongan language there. It's your identity. It's who you are. And we have experienced a lot of issues with young people, with their identity. Those who know their identity, they know that they have value. But if you don't know your identity, it's difficult for you to know your value and who you are. That's why it's important to have the Tongan language and also to know about the culture. And of course, you can't learn in isolation, the language, or the culture, it's interactive. So, to be spoken at home and not only that but you go to where people meet, and church is one of the best alternatives. They do have Sunday schools in the Tongan language, and also not only the church, but there are other opportunities where you learn your language and culture. For example, as I said, the early childhood centres and also primary schools and some of the secondary schools up to the tertiary level.
I believe Pacific success is being able to know who you are and not only to survive, but have your Tūrangawaewae - you are able to stand you know, on yourself and not being chased or not being controlled by financial institutions and not being controlled, by gangs or other groups. But you are able to stand, and you have a very firm Tūrangawaewae which is your language, your culture and also your religion or your church. And not only that, but you are able to contribute also to your family, contribute to the community and also to the country.
And I believe that how successful a person is. You still have the link with your folks back at home and not that you suffer for them, but you try and establish yourself, first in New Zealand and then remember your roots. I think to me, that's the Pacific success for me. My message to the parents to treat the children's education as the priority number one. Two main reasons why we migrated from the islands is to get a better education and to have better opportunities. You know, those two things. And it is most important that the children are a priority. My church, which I am a minister of, I explained, that's what I advise and encourage the parents to family first, and then church and other things. They are all low priorities. Number one is the family. It's best to make sure that the children are well fed, that children are well clothed, that the children, any needs for their education, that they must be addressed, first and foremost. Church come is a very low priority to me that's very important. And not to give money, you know to other fundraising like fa'alavelave from the islands or from where. First the priority is the family. and family needs that you run and also the family to me, that's number one. I would help make sure that, those who are doing well I encourage, and also those who are not doing well academically. But they must have some opportunity to explore, find out what are their gifts and strengths and build on that because not everyone is you know, tailored to go to universities or whatever, but trade education is very important. And not only that, but also, we would like resources, from the government and from anywhere. For example, we need devices. Some of our people are disadvantaged.
For example, some of us in North Shore our communication, our communities, they are very much disadvantaged because that part of Auckland it's an affluent part. But unfortunately, we are there. We are still poor people, in that affluent society. And therefore, sometimes when the distribution of support from government, we miss out simply because we live in North Shore. But we would like to be treated because some of the schools of course, in the old time, you know, there is one or there is two but a lot from our people in those decile one schools, there's nine or there's ten standard, and not only that, but also schools and education system, ought realise as well that our students have other gifts. Not only in athletics or other sports or cultural things but some of our or many of our young people are very gifted and they can pull themselves if they have the opportunity. Like other schools have a lot of opportunities.
That's my passion for those who don't have, who have the gifts, you know, but who are not, don't have the same support as others in that they do have those support and opportunities as well. We do run other educational initiatives, for example mentoring. The need some of the students, or a lot of our students, they need devices to be able to do that. I know that the government is helping, other projects have help distribute devices but a lot of our students, they do miss out on that. But we do need those as well. It will help them and also the parents to be up to date with the digital world. I think it's very important that they are up to date with those challenges. Thank you.