- Hon Aupito William Sio
More Pasifika are embracing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities, paving a pathway to educational success, says Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio.
Now in its sixth year, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) Toloa Programme is achieving its goal of helping Pacific Aotearoa to thrive.
"Our aim has always been to see Pacific communities in Aotearoa prosper, and encouraging more people into STEM-related study and jobs is a way to do this," says Minister Sio.
"We want Pacific peoples fulfilling their potential in the belief everyone in Aotearoa has the opportunity to succeed and be able to provide for their families."
The STEM fields are the way of the future, and future employment sectors will require STEM skills. In 2015, MPP established the Toloa Programme, which takes a multi-faceted approach of raising awareness and providing workforce development opportunities.
Every year, scholarships and funding are provided to individuals and groups at the Toloa Awards, which are being held in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch throughout March and April.
This year, MPP has awarded 59 Toloa Tertiary Scholarships to Pacific students to pursue studies in STEM and become the future innovators and leaders in this space.
"It is our highest number of scholarships given out for the programme since it began.
"It not only encourages more students to take up STEM subjects, but it lifts the burden of having to find funds for tertiary fees, meaning students can focus entirely on their studies," Minister Sio says.
This year, there are 34 recipients of the Community Fund and 14 Kenese Fund recipients.
In July last year, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and MPP signed a Memorandum of Understanding, agreeing to work together, to increase the number of Pacific people in the STEM workforce.
A total of $550,000 has been allocated to MPP from MBIE's Research, Science, and Innovation: Talent and Science Promotion appropriation to support initiatives for Pacific people to transition into STEM employment .
"This support has been gratefully received and by working together with MBIE, we are moving closer to seeing more and more Pacific faces in jobs such as Engineering and Computer Programming. It is a fascinating time for the growing population of Pacific peoples in New Zealand, as we welcome the future and opportunities in STEM," says Aupito William Sio.
Note for editors:
Visit MPP for further information.
A list of the 2021 Toloa Tertiary Scholarships, Toloa Community Fund and Toloa Kenese Fund recipients is below.
Toloa Tertiary Scholarship recipients 2021:
Full Name |
Course of Study |
Region |
Ethnicity |
Kaline Masitabua |
Bachelor of Architectural Studies |
Central |
Fijian |
Linda Fatialofa |
Doctor of Philosophy Forensic Psychology |
Central |
Samoan |
Ryan Simpson |
Masters of Architectural Science |
Central |
Samoan |
Siana Whatarau |
Bachelor of Science Marine Biology & Environmental Science |
Central |
Cook Islands Maori |
Shantay Micaiah Savea |
Bachelor of Science |
Central |
Samoan |
Bree Aiono |
Bachelor of Science |
Central |
Samoan |
Jovaan Mataroa |
Master of Architecture (Professional) |
Central |
Cook Islands Maori |
John Tagi |
Masters of Architecture |
Northern |
Tongan |
Heamasi Vaioleti |
Bachelor of Engineering |
Northern |
Tongan |
Seila Vaeluaga |
Bachelor of Science |
Northern |
Tuvaluan |
Mena Rosyana Vaimasenuu Welford |
Completion of Postgraduate Diploma in Science and Master of Science |
Northern |
Samoan |
Avelina Vaisima |
Bachelor of Engineering |
Northern |
Tongan |
Josiah Tuitama |
Master of Architecture (Professional) |
Northern |
Samoan |
Emily McIntosh |
Bachelor of Engineering |
Northern |
Tongan |
Leilani Stowers |
Bachelor of Engineering Technology |
Northern |
Samoan |
Alfred Pama |
Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce |
Northern |
Samoan |
Malia Senerita Akanete Pateli |
Postgraduate Diploma Biomedical Science |
Northern |
Samoan |
Greissen Leslie |
Bachelor of Engineering |
Northern |
Niuean |
Talia Mather |
Bachelor of Science |
Northern |
Tokelauan |
Anthea Adam |
Bachelor of Science, Chemistry and Environmental Science |
Northern |
Samoan |
Filipe Lata |
Bachelor of Engineering Technology |
Northern |
Tongan |
Shauna Glassie-Ryan |
Bachelor of Animal Science |
Northern |
Cook Islands Maori |
Sereima Dulakuverata |
Bachelor of Science |
Northern |
Fijian |
Fa'atonu Fa'afili |
Bachelor of Engineering |
Northern |
Samoan |
Anunson Ott |
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours |
Northern |
Samoan |
Solomon Fifita |
Bachelor of Engineering |
Northern |
Tongan |
Mabel Fa'aloua Leilani Tata |
Bachelor of Science |
Northern |
Samoan |
Aisake Tafea |
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) |
Northern |
Tongan |
Kelsie-Rose Craig |
Bachelor of Science |
Northern |
Tuvaluan |
Logan Fenton |
Bachelor of Science |
Northern |
Tahitian |
Miracle Naititi |
Bachelor of Civil Engineering |
Northern |
Samoan |
Jasmin Smith |
Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Health Science |
Northern |
Fijian |
Niels Arnesen |
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) |
Northern |
Samoan |
Gustav Chu-Ling |
Master of Science |
Northern |
Samoan |
Marcus Siliko |
Bachelor of Biomedical Science |
Northern |
Samoan |
Deborah Salave'a |
Bachelor of Science |
Northern |
Samoan |
Epokifoou Vuki |
Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) |
Northern |
Tongan |
Michael Vaeono |
Bachelor of Engineering |
Northern |
Samoan |
Tuamu Maka |
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) |
Northern |
Samoan |
Grant Fale |
Master of Science |
Northern |
Tongan |
Gloria Tu'itupou |
Bachelor of Science |
Northern |
Tongan |
Alexander Deo |
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours in Civil Engineering |
Northern |
Fijian |
Margret Mage |
Bachelor of Science |
Northern |
Tongan |
Latai Pope Sakalia |
Bachelor of Environmental Science and Bachelor of Biological Science |
Northern |
Tongan |
Tyrone Faapoi |
Diploma in Information Technology Technical Support |
Northern |
Samoan |
Elizabeth Arrowsmith |
Bachelor of Science |
Northern |
Fijian |
Gerald Tuimalealiifano |
Master of Information Technology |
Northern |
Samoan |
Jessica Vea |
Bachelor of Creative Technologies |
Northern |
Tongan |
Joshua Simmons |
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce |
Northern |
Fijian |
Valerie Lui |
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) |
Northern |
Samoan |
Piper Mortimer |
Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) |
Southern |
Samoan |
Jade Angel Christiansen |
Master of Science |
Southern |
Samoan |
Tisiola Sarah Adela Talalima |
Bachelor of Science Honours |
Southern |
Tongan |
Christoinette Tausa |
Bachelor of Science |
Southern |
Samoan |
Etina Uele |
Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Law |
Southern |
Tongan |
Ben Williams |
Master of Science |
Southern |
Fijian |
Richard Bedford |
Bachelor of Engineering |
Southern |
Solomon Islander |
Amelia Kirisome |
Bachelor of Surveying |
Southern |
Samoan |
Samsara Guillemot-Mene |
Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Family Psychology and Masters of Science in Child and Family Psychology |
Southern |
Samoan |
Toloa Community Fund recipients 2021:
Group/organisation |
Region |
Digital Discipline (SL1 Consulting Limited) |
Auckland |
Papaioea Pasifika Community Trust |
Palmerston North |
Samoan Scientist |
Auckland |
EFKS Hamilton Youth Group (Congregational Christian Church of Samoan (Hamilton) Trust Board) |
Hamilton |
To'utupu Tonga Trust |
Auckland |
Cross-Polynate Ltd |
Christchurch |
Faith City Trust Board |
Auckland |
Melana Trust |
Auckland |
Amanaki STEM Academy |
Palmerston North |
Congregation Christian Church of Samoa Otahuhu Trust Board (CCCS Otahuhu) The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa (Otahuhu) Trust Board) |
Auckland |
Taulanga Malie Reformed Christian Church of Tuvalu Trust in Tauranga |
Tauranga |
Vahefonua Tonga Methodist Mission Charitable Trust (SIAOLA) |
Auckland |
Tausa'afia Trust T/a Aoga Fa'ata'ita'i Samoa PIC Mangere |
Auckland |
Atamu EFKS Porirua Incorporated |
Porirua/Wellington |
Hakatere Multi Cultural Council |
Ashburton |
Multi Consultants and Personnel Ltd T/A Alignz Recruitment |
Hamilton |
Atafu Tokelau Community Group Incorporated - Collab with OMG Tech (Pam Fergusson Charitable Trust) |
Porirua/Wellington |
Congregational Church of Samoa (EFKS Mt Roskill) Trust Board |
Auckland |
Ekalesia Fa'apotopotoga Kerisiano Samoa (Ranui) Trust Board |
Auckland |
Epro8 Challenge |
Porirua |
Kiribati Protestant Church of Aotearoa Incorporated |
Auckland |
MakaNet Limited |
Auckland |
Mangere Central School |
Auckland |
Oamaru Pacific Island Community Group Inc |
Oamaru |
Pacific Island Homecare Services Trust |
Auckland |
Pacific Trust Otago |
Dunedin |
Ranui 135 Leadership Team |
Auckland |
Samoan Congregational Church of Jesus in New Zealand (New Lynn Branch) Incorporated |
Auckland |
SDL Consultancy Ltd |
Wellington |
The Lalanga Foundation |
Auckland |
Tongan Methodist Church |
Auckland |
Vaitupu Community Trust |
Auckland |
Wellington Methodist Church |
Wellington |
West Auckland Kiribati Association Incorporated |
Auckland |
Kenese Fund recipients 2021:
Group/organisation |
Region |
Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington (VUW) operating under the Research Trust of Victoria University of Wellington (RTV). |
Wellington |
COMET Auckland |
Auckland |
VAI 'OE MO'UI TONGAN CHURCH COMMUNITY (The Methodist Church of New Zealand Te Haahi Weteriana O Aotearoa Auckland - Manukau Tongan Parish - Parish (7510) |
Auckland |
Ferguson Intermediate School |
Auckland |
KidsCoin Limited |
Auckland |
Papaioea Pasifika Community Trust (PPCT) & Malamalama Moni Aonga Amata (MMAA) |
Palmerston North |
Pam Fergusson Charitable Trust |
Auckland |
GirlBoss New Zealand |
Auckland |
A& K Thomson |
Auckland |
Brown Pride NZ Ltd |
Auckland |
Satauro PIPC Wiri (Sunday School) - Homework Centre |
Auckland |
St Pauls College |
Auckland |
Tuvalu Auckland Community Trust |
Auckland |
Vaka Interactiv |
Wellington |
