Hat-trick of Pacific PhDs

By STUART DYE, education reporter

Three Pacific Islanders have graduated from the University of Auckland with PhDs - a record number for the country's largest university.

Jemaima Tiatia and Lonise Tanielu celebrated years of hard work when they were awarded their doctorates this week.

Sione Ma'u will receive his PhD at the university's final graduation ceremony today.

The trio, who are among more than 4500 people officially awarded 5000 qualifications this week, hope their achievements can be an inspiration to other Pacific Islanders.

"There should be more Pacific Islanders achieving at New Zealand's largest university," said Mrs Tanielu.

The 55-year-old's doctorate was research into bridging the knowledge gap and improving the literacy standards of Samoan children.

"My work is directed towards raising the standards among Pacific Island learning."

Mr Ma'u did his PhD in mathematics. The 28-year-old went to school in Tonga and believes there are many academically gifted Pacific Island children but they lack the self-belief and encouragement to pursue education to higher levels.

Ms Tiatia's doctorate in community health looked at the gap in strategies to prevent suicide among young Pacific Islanders.

"What we have achieved is very important in terms of role modelling because it shows, despite the pressures we've all come through, it can be done," said Ms Tiatia, 30.

In time-honoured tradition, the graduates and staff paraded through the city centre in academic regalia this week.

Justine Munro, project manager of Auckland University's Starpath initiative to bolster under-achieving students, said the university's ethnic make-up reflected New Zealand's growing cultural diversity.

Of this year's graduates, half were Pakeha and a third were Asian, with Maori and Pacific Island making up just 4 per cent each.

Of the combined law, business and economics graduates, 44 per cent were Pakeha, 40 per cent Asian, 5 per cent Maori and 3 per cent Pacific Islander.

"Our reality is one of increasing migration of peoples and increased global interactions," said Ms Munro. "One of the biggest issues facing us is cultural diversity. Our future prosperity and social cohesion depend on us overcoming these barriers."

Many young New Zealanders were now grounded in two or more cultures, she said.

"[They] are the people who can build the bridges between different ethnic groups, who can explain at a deep level their motivations and concerns, and can seek out the ties that bind."

One in five students left school without formal qualifications - one in three Maori students and one in four Pacific students.

And the number of Maori 18- to 24-year-olds studying at university was one third the rate of all other students.

Ms Munro described the figures as unacceptable and said New Zealand's challenge was to maximise the educational potential of all of its children, regardless of ethnicity or socio-economic background.

"If this country is to continue to prosper economically, we must draw upon all of the resources at our disposal," she said.

Who graduates Pakeha: 2464

Asian: 1731

Maori: 222

Pacific Island: 212

Other minority: 186

TOTAL: 5035

No response from 220 graduates

Qualifications: 4533