ABOUTFOFONGA
Empowering the aspirations of Pacific peoples through transdisciplinary
Pacific-led research with partners in Aotearoa and abroad.
MISSION AND VISION
Fofonga for Pacific Research Excellence’s mission is to grow, develop and nurture Pacific research excellence and Pacific researcher capacity at Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland. In developing a sustainable pipeline of Pacific research leadership, Fofonga acts as a landing place, seeding ground and enabler of collaborative Pacific research excellence, capacity building and leadership that meaningfully supports the aspirations and lives of Pacific peoples.
Fofonga as a platform, seeks to widely disseminate and share the wealth of Pacific knowledges generated at Waipapa Taumata Rau – The University in Auckland, connecting our researchers’ work to Pacific communities, our government agencies and other research organisations/institutions and stakeholders in Aotearoa-New Zealand and the region, to help address a myriad of existential crises that Pacific peoples in Aotearoa-New Zealand and the region face (including but not limited to): climate change, health and wellbeing, education and social justice.
To achieve our mission, Fofonga is seeking to partner with Pacific communities, universities, NGOs, social change makers, regional organisations, creatives, media and other stakeholders to develop and deliver transdisciplinary research projects capable of driving real-world impact and positive change in the lives and livelihoods of Pacific peoples.
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ABOUT THE NAME
Fofonga/hohonga in many southern and eastern Pacific cultures and languages, is a noble way of referring to one’s face and the tools needed to generate knowledge. In this case, Fofonga reflects our mission to elevate Pacific faces and expertise into research and knowledge-making leadership spaces. In one’s fofonga are all the tools necessary to carry out research and knowledge-making: eyes for one’s vision and sight, the ears – to be able to listen intently, the mouth – where one can communicate, the mind – where knowledge, sense, foresight, planning and meaning-making for research is produced. And one’s head – where a person’s mana accumulates and status is represented.
Fofonga for Pacific Research Excellence seeks to address the under-representation of Pacific people in research leadership positions by elevating the fofonga of all Pacific researchers at Waipapa Taumata Rau – The University of Auckland.
THE FOFONGA TEAM
Director
Charmaine ‘Ilaiu Talei
Senior Lecture- School of Architecture and Planning
Associate Dean Pacific
Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries
Establishment Director
Seuta’afili Dr Patrick Thomsen
Senior Lecturer – Global Studies
Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland
Research Programme Manager
Ioana Hill
OUR PARTNERS
