Tributes for Pacific Early Childhood Education champion

There’s been an outpouring of tributes for Dr Patisepa Vaitimu Tuafuti, a former senior lecturer at the University of Auckland and a staunch proponent of Pacific primary and Early Childhood Education (ECE) in New Zealand, who died on 25 February after a long battle with cancer.

Associate Professor Mark Barrow, Dean of Education and Social Work, said that Dr Tuafuti will be remembered as a well-loved senior lecturer at the University for over 12 years. He noted that she devoted her life and career to empowering Pacific communities through bilingual education programmes, notably in the early childhood education space.​

Dr Rae Siilata from the School of Curriculum and Pedagogy acknowledged Dr Tuafuti “for her life of service for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa, for her people in Samoa, and for her support of many preservice students in the Pasifika ECE degree”.

“We specifically recognise her work with practising teachers in the Graduate Diploma in TESSOL, where she taught the ‘Introduction to Samoan’ course over many years, which was a highlight for many of the teachers in the programme. Patisepa was an integral contributor to the initial design of the Ministry of Education’s Pasifika New Entrant Project from 2014-2016, and led fono (meetings) for parents and families in many schools in Tāmaki.

“Patisepa was instrumental in spreading the message to Pacific communities about the importance of being speakers, readers and writers of Pacific languages. She brought research to life through her fa’afaletui lens in her doctoral work and was unwaveringly committed to Pasifika Early Childhood Education. She leaves an enduring legacy in the Pacific education space,” Rae says.

Patisepa Tuafuti was originally from Afega, Samoa. She was appointed as teacher at Clydemore School Otara in 1983 and since then has been involved in the efforts for the recognition of Pacific languages teaching and bilingual education for all Pacific groups, together with Joy Webb ( Wilson) and John McCaffery. Her PhD research at the University of Waikato focused on the challenges for Pacific communities in establishing bilingual education programmes in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Although often focused on Samoan contexts, her work and commitment extended to all Pacific communities, languages and programmes, which she championed with passion and determination – and often frustration at the slow pace of development by successive governments.

Dr Tanya Samu from the School of Critical Studies in Education says, “Patisepa has been an important influence on my growth and development as a leader, as an educator and as a scholar in Pacific education”.

“Thank you for your unwavering faith, dedication and strength as a Samoan woman and educator - for your commitment to serving our peoples throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. Your scholarship, mentoring and coaching of others are part of your legacy.”

At the time of her death, Dr Tuafuti was a Director of Tuafuti Education Ltd, which provides education consultancy services for empowering Pacific families. During her long career in Pacific education, she had been a member of the Pacific Education Foundation, founding member Fagasa organisation, former education adviser with the Ministry of Education/ Team Solutions, implementation adviser of the first Samoan Language National Curriculum statement , founding member and President of the Ulimasao Bilingual Education Association, and founding member Bilingual Leo Pacific.

Pasifika Success Coordinator Tim Baice remembers Dr Tuafuti as “a wonderful mentor, teacher and friend who spent much of her life fighting for her beliefs”.

“A staunch champion for Pasifika languages and Pasifika education, Patisepa made such a significant impact on the lives of so many in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the Pacific, and will be sorely missed.”

Amuia e faanoanoa, aua e faamafanafana i latou, ‘O le oti foi o lou manuia lea, a o latou ola ua ia Keriso lea’.
Auē ua maliliu Toa ua ma‘umau ai ‘auupega ole taua!
O se Tinā e Pele i totonu lona aiga faapea lona aiga I le galuega.
Ia manuia lou malaga Tinā e le galo oe i matou loto.