Issue 35 Education Guide

Learning to Achieve
Maori and Pacific are described as the long brown tail that lags behind the rest of New Zealand in education, which will eventually hinder the country’s attempts to close the gap with the likes of Australia on an economic level. The raising of Maori and Pacific education achievement is seen as the No 1 priority for the Minister of Education Anne Tolley. How serious is it? And what can be done to improve it? SPASIFIK publisher and editor INNES LOGAN investigates.


The path to success is the one you build yourself
SPASIFIK deputy editor QIANE CORFIELD-MATATA is a strong believer in self-responsibility. She’s lived by the motto ‘If you want to achieve in life, you need to make it happen’. She tells us about her education journey and shares some tips to success.


Tips for parents: Secondary School
How to help your teen attend school regularly; tips for parents and students.


Tips for Parents: Primary and Intermediate School
How to help your children learn.


Understanding NCEA
Haven’t got your head around NCEA? You’re not alone, so to make things easier the New Zealand Qualifications Authority – NZQA – provides this basic guide to help you understand a result notice


Waikato University takes a strong line on law
Fijian–born Akanisi Nabalarua has just completed her final year of a conjoint Bachelor of Management with honours and Bachelor of Law at Waikato – and she has a wealth of competitions and work experience already behind her.


Make a lasting impression
IVAN TAVA of Career Services has spent the past three issues of SPASIFIK helping you compile an employment toolkit, he now shows you how to improve your interviewing skills.

Enrol Now!
Maori and Pacific Islanders looking to enrol at Unitec Institute of Technology should get their applications in now or face missing out on places says the Auckland tertiary provider.

Sione leads the way
A nursing lecturer at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT), Sione, who hails from the Tongan villages of Longolongo, Saineai (Vava’u), Lofanga (Ha’apai) and Lapaha, is one of the inaugural participants of New Zealand’s first Pasifika tertiary education leadership programme.
Don’t leave it too late, enrol now and get your future started!
November is always a busy time of year for everyone, whether you are planning to go to University or still thinking about your options for next year, says Sera Gagau, Victoria University of Wellington’s Pacific Liaison officer. Working in the Student Recruitment and Course Advice team, Sera has lots of experience answering the questions that families and students have before making the move to Victoria.

Opinion piece: Funding tertiary education
Whitireia Chief Executive shares his views on the success of polytechnics as education providers. Quality tertiary education outcomes are fundamental to our success as a country and not only in these troubled economic times. So how we fund tertiary education to achieve these outcomes is also critically important.

Distance Learning…your future!
"For many, one of our courses is the first example of a meaningful education," says TORU Team Senior Tutor/Course Developer, Jo Nicholson. Learners can apply and start any time during the year, as there are no set start dates. Our approach to learning is that YOU are in control of your learning – you have decided what qualification you want.
Prince chooses Whitireia Performing Arts
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex is in Wellington on 4 November for a whirlwind visit and has made a special request for the Whitireia Performing Arts students to perform for him.
Studying to be an international relations superstar
Ashalyna Noa Siaosi, always knew that she would go to university but she chose Canterbury University because a few of her high school friends were going to be there, and because her parents and uncle were also UC graduates.