Pasifika Tertiary Family Evenings 2025 – Tauranga & Hastings

To all secondary school pacific students in the Bay of Plenty – this one’s for you!

The Pasifika Tertiary Family Evening 2025 is your chance to hear about Uni life, courses, scholarships, support services and more – all in a relaxed and welcoming space. Bring your families and your questions.

Scan the QR code on the poster to register!

Tauranga

🗓️ Tuesday 22 July 2025
📍 Tauranga Boys’ College, 664 Cameron Road
🕕 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Hastings

🗓️ Wednesday 23 July 2025
📍 Flaxmere Community Centre, 400 Swansea Road
🕕 6:00pm – 8:00pm

💬 In our talanoa, we’ll cover:

Study options and enrolment
Admission and financing your studies
Student support services
Transitioning into university life

A light dinner and expo will be available during the evening.

Doors open at 5:30pm.

Contact: Tapu Vea – 027 563 6670
Email: tapu.vea@vuw.ac.nz

#masseyuniversity #victoriauniversityofwellington #lincolnuniversity #otagouniversity
#universitylife #universityscholarships
— in Tauranga.

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Mel Cottingham

Chairperson | New Zealand born British/Niue

Mel is the chairperson of the Pasifika in the Bay Trust. She loves all things Pacific, in particular working with amazing people to initiate and deliver successful Pacific programmes and events. Mel enjoys her dream job, reading, hanging out with her nieces and nephews, travelling with friends and family, and is adamant to snowboard until she can’t. She is currently thinking about taking up golf.

Current Masters in Education (Victoria University of Wellington), TeachNZ Study Award

Grad Dip Teach Prim, Level 6 Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Bachelor of Management Studies

New Zealand Institute of Directors Courses including Governance Essentials, Risk Essentials, Finance Essentials, Strategy Essentials

Experience in Tertiary and Primary – Kura Auraki, Reorua, ESOL

Lived Experiences in the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, UK and South Korea

Nieces and Nephews in Early Childhood Centre, Primary, Secondary Boarding and University

ALVA TALOPAU

Treasurer | Niue Born and Raised

Alva is the Treasurer of the Pasifika in the Bay Trust with over eighteen years of experience as a business owner in the financial services industry. Together with her husband Alex, they’ve raised three high achieving young adults. Alva is passionate about supporting and empowering young people to reach their full potential. Alva loves playing board games, spending time with family and friends, baking, cooking and makes a mean chop suey.

Current Masters in Education (Victoria University of Wellington), TeachNZ Study Award

Grad Dip Teach Prim, Level 6 Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Bachelor of Management Studies

New Zealand Institute of Directors Courses including Governance Essentials, Risk Essentials, Finance Essentials, Strategy Essentials

Experience in Tertiary and Primary – Kura Auraki, Reorua, ESOL

Lived Experiences in the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, UK and South Korea

Nieces and Nephews in Early Childhood Centre, Primary, Secondary Boarding and University

ANNETTE LABAN

Secretary | New Zealand born Samoa/Tokelau/German

Annette is the Secretary for Pasifika in the Bay Trust and hails from the islands of Samoa and Tokelau, with German ancestry. She is a trained Primary School Teacher, with a Bachelor of Business Studies majoring in Marketing, and recently completed her Masters in Education. Her passion is to actively seek new ways to support Pacific people and is excited about creating her own opportunities. She enjoys catching up with family and friends, arts and crafts and loves the outdoors.

Current Masters in Education (Victoria University of Wellington), TeachNZ Study Award

Grad Dip Teach Prim, Level 6 Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Bachelor of Management Studies

New Zealand Institute of Directors Courses including Governance Essentials, Risk Essentials, Finance Essentials, Strategy Essentials

Experience in Tertiary and Primary – Kura Auraki, Reorua, ESOL

Lived Experiences in the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, UK and South Korea

Nieces and Nephews in Early Childhood Centre, Primary, Secondary Boarding and University

EMMA PACKHAM

Trustee | New Zealand born Kiribati/British

Current Masters in Education (Victoria University of Wellington), TeachNZ Study Award

Grad Dip Teach Prim, Level 6 Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Bachelor of Management Studies

New Zealand Institute of Directors Courses including Governance Essentials, Risk Essentials, Finance Essentials, Strategy Essentials

Experience in Tertiary and Primary – Kura Auraki, Reorua, ESOL

Lived Experiences in the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, UK and South Korea

Nieces and Nephews in Early Childhood Centre, Primary, Secondary Boarding and University

Mel is the chairperson of the Pasifika in the Bay Trust. She loves all things Pacific, in particular working with amazing people to initiate and deliver successful Pacific programmes and events. Mel enjoys her dream job, reading, hanging out with her nieces and nephews, travelling with friends and family, and is adamant to snowboard until she can’t. She is currently thinking about taking up golf.

Current Masters in Education (Victoria University of Wellington), TeachNZ Study Award

Grad Dip Teach Prim, Level 6 Te Aupikitanga ki te Reo Kairangi, Bachelor of Management Studies

New Zealand Institute of Directors Courses including Governance Essentials, Risk Essentials, Finance Essentials, Strategy Essentials

Experience in Tertiary and Primary – Kura Auraki, Reorua, ESOL

Lived Experiences in the Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Niue, UK and South Korea

Nieces and Nephews in Early Childhood Centre, Primary, Secondary Boarding and University

Pasifika Tertiary Family Evenings 2025 – Tauranga & Hastings

Tauranga

🗓️ Tuesday 22 July 2025📍 Tauranga Boys’ College, 664 Cameron Road🕕 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Hastings

🗓️ Wednesday 23 July 2025📍 Flaxmere Community Centre, 400 Swansea Road🕕 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Want to keep up with our blog?

LATEST FROM THE PASIFIKA IN THE BAY

2025 Pasifika Speech & Languages Competition in the Bay

Celebrating Cook Islands Māori Language Week: ‘Ātui’tui’ia au ki te raurau a tōku matakeinanga

Rising Hibiscus returns for Term 3!

🗓️ Tuesday 22 July 2025
📍 Tauranga Boys’ College, 664 Cameron Road
🕕 6:00pm – 8:00pm

🗓️ Wednesday 23 July 2025
📍 Flaxmere Community Centre, 400 Swansea Road
🕕 6:00pm – 8:00pm