Transcript
Almost 50 years ago, Pastor Eroni Rabo Dau applied from Fiji to enrol as a student at MIT. He says, like many others from the Pacific back then, he wanted to study a trade.
"Back in the islands the only training providers or education institutions that we are fully aware of, back in the islands, are MIT and Carrington Polytech, Wellington Polytech. And when we tried to apply from the islands to come to New Zealand, we are looking to getting a place."
When MIT was first established in 1970 it had 11 staff and 200 full time students learning trades in a single multi-storey building in Otara.
The institute has now expanded to offer courses in Business, Creative Arts, Social Sciences, digital technologies and more.
Last year, it had 6,500 full-time students studying courses in eight campuses throughout Auckland.
Pastor Eroni, now a Civil Engineer, has led his church in South Auckland over the past 30 years and says the Institute has been vital to his community.
"Trade programs - many of our Pacific Island people don't quite realise how important that programme is in any developing country. For our Pacific Island communities they need to see that because development don't need to necessarily come from outside. MIT plays a very important role in our community."
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, the institute's Deputy Chief Executive, agreed that often older Pacific migrants try to push their children towards careers in other professions like law and medicine rather than trades.
But it's a short-sighted view.
"One of the barriers that we have is the paradigm shift for our Pasifika parents especially and grandparents, that a vocational education is actually really valuable and actually leads to high paying jobs. But also, the statistics are clear. You know, we, in terms of graduates and employment rates, 5 years after graduating, we have some of the highest employment rates here at MIT than any other institution in New Zealand."
He says he hopes the value for trade industries will increase among Pacific people.
"We need to push that message out more in that it can help you, it can help your family and it can certainly help your communities."
As the former Minister of Pacific Peoples, in his opening address, Peseta was quick to remind the current minister, 'Aupito William Sio, of their encounter two years ago at the opening of the institute's Pasifika Community Centre where 'Aupito appealed to the National government for more money for the institution.
In good humor, Peseta told 'Aupito he now joins him in that plea.
"You know what we're doing here is important, certainly for the Manukau area and our students, communities and families and certainly any support that we can get from our Minister is certainly appreciated."
After nearly 10 years in opposition before appointed as Minister last year, 'Aupito says he welcomes the call.
"It's far better here than on the other side (laughs) nonetheless, the challenge is real. And each one of us ministers has a vital role to play and for me, I've got to make sure that the perspectives of Pacific people and the dreams and aspirations of Pacific peoples is part of that conversation."
'Aupito says he supports the strategy which aims to increase Pasifika enrolments by 20 percent, increase retention rates from 65 percent to 75 percent and lift course completion rates from 75 percent to 85 percent all over the next five years.
He says while New Zealand's Pacific people frequently face inequality, they make a huge contribution to the country.
"The key to unlocking our potential is education. Despite the disparities in housing, health, education - all the factors that we're aware of, despite those inequalities and despite the barriers that Pacific people experience in this country. We do make a contribution and it's a significant contribution. Eight billion dollars contribution to the GDP of New Zealand is nothing to sneeze about."
The strategy also seeks to increase Pasifika academic staff from 6 to 8 percent in the next five years.
