Le Moana Mua award winner acknowledges his family and inspirational teachers
Associate Professor Lefaoalii Dion Enari, who was recently awarded the prestigious Le Moana Mua award, has acknowledged the support and input of his family and teachers as key contributors to his success.
Le Moana Mua is part of Te Whatu Kairangi Aotearoa Tertiary Educator Awards and recognises phenomenal Pacific educators and trainers. It is the second consecutive year that the award has been won by a Unitec kaimahi.
Lefaoalii joined Unitec in April as its first Pacific Associate Professor in the School of Healthcare and Social Practice. He is a New Zealand-born Samoan, raised in Brisbane, Australia, who also spent time living in Samoa.
In accepting the award at a ceremony held at Parliament earlier this month, Lefaoalii says, “I dedicate this award to my grandmother Kiki Caroline Lucy Langkilde Purcell, who decided to move from Samoa to New Zealand, where I could be born in Aotearoa.
“I also dedicate it to my mother Malaeolela Adele Enari Purcell who decided to move my brothers from New Zealand to Australia, where I was predominantly raised.”
Lefaoali’i’s passion is indigenous research, and he is based at Ngā Wai a Te Tūī, Unitec’s Māori and Indigenous Research Centre, bringing a dedicated focus on Indigenous knowledge, Pacific languages, and decolonising education.
“Being at Parliament was a sacred time for me to reflect and remember all the great teachers I’ve had in my life,” he says. “If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have received this award.
“The pleasure is mine to work with all the amazing teachers at Unitec. Thank you all for your love.”
Peseta Lotu-Iiga, Executive director of MIT and Unitec, and Professor Martin Carroll attended the awards ceremony, which Lefaoalii describes as a “truly priceless moment.”
From the shortlist of 11 awards finalists, Richard Hope from Ara was named as overall Educator of the Year.
