Our providers will be the venue for next year’s Association for Pacific Staff in Tertiary Education (APSTE) National Conference.

This was confirmed at the 2025 APSTE Fono hosted by Victoria University of Wellington on 18 to19 August.

Unitec was represented at the APSTE Fono by eleven Pacific kaimahi who joined nearly two hundred kaimahi representing 22 tertiary institutions from across the motu.

APSTE is a collective of Pasifika staff from around Aotearoa, dedicated to strengthening their presence, leadership, and success within the tertiary sector.

Formed more than 30 years ago by a core group of Pacific educators, APSTE saw the need for advocacy and representation for Pacific kaimahi. It is the only association of its kind that bridges the gap for Pacific tertiary sector staff who work in universities, ITPs, ITOs, PTEs, and wānanga.

The current APSTE chair is Aiono Manu Fa’aea, Senior Pasifika Manager at MIT.

Unitec’s Director for Student Success, Annette Pitovao, also sits on the APSTE Executive board as the northern region representative.

Interim Manager, Pacific Success, Sooalo Daisy Bentley-Gray said APSTE 2025 was a rewarding experience for our kaimahi who attended.

“It enabled them to (re)connect with colleagues from other tertiary institutions,” Sooalo explains.
“Our hosts from Victoria University of Wellington showed true Pacific hospitality, which made us feel at home in the “windy” capital.
“The activities and sessions were great; they were insightful and encouraging, and they reminded us that being a strong collective in this space is needed. Also, many thanks to Linda and Annette for the hard work they do in their roles.”

Head of School, Healthcare and Social Practice, Linda Aumua, a co-founder of APSTE, was one of the guest speakers on the Pasifika Leadership Panel joining Green Party MP, Teanau Tuiono, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Pacific, University of Otago, Professor Dianne Sika-Paotonu, Kaiwhakahaere Māori Cultural Capability Ako Aotearoa, Dr. Mei Winitana, and Principal Advisor Pacific Engagement, Stats NZ, Vaotui Seulupe Dr. Falaniko Tominiko, who is Unitec’s former Pacific Centre Director.

This year’s APSTE programme including cultural capability workshops, tours, presentations by the attending institutions, and the APSTE annual general meeting.

There was a strong emphasis on developing leadership capability for the next generation of Pasifika tertiary educators and workers.

Tongan Language Week was also acknowledged with Tongan staff leading the blessings, karakia (prayer), singing of hymns and waiata (song), and sharing of cultural activities including the opening kava ceremony.

The theme of the discussions focused on the challenges ahead for the tertiary sector including the changes in vocational education and how this might affect Pacific Staff working in those spaces.

Caren Rangi, ONZM – a trailblazing governance leader and passionate advocate for Pacific voices, who currently serves as Pro-Chancellor for Massey University and a Director on the New Zealand Rugby board, reflected on these sector changes in her keynote address entitled: “Staying fefeka (Tongan word for strong) through the churning seas of leadership”.

APSTE is now working on the drafting a new constitution as part of the legal requirements of maintaining an association.  This is expected to be ratified at their December board meeting.

You can find out more about APSTE on their website.