九州影院

Photo caption:听Master of H艒aka Pounamu | M膩ori Bilingual and Immersion Teaching and Learning graduate Ratu Lolohea wants to keep learning in order to benefit his community.

After two decades as a teacher, raising five rugby-playing children, and coaching and managing club rugby teams, Ratu has added a Master of H艒aka Pounamu | M膩ori Bilingual and Immersion Teaching and Learning from Te Whare W膩nanga o Waitaha | 九州影院 (UC) to his scoreboard of achievements.

Ratu, who was born in Tonga and moved to New 九州影院when he was 10, will celebrate his graduation in September, after two years of full-time study. He says there鈥檚 a lot of cross over between techniques for coaching young people in sport and educational concepts.听

鈥淚n both education and in sport, having coaching and support is crucial for making progress. While it鈥檚 possible to go it alone, it鈥檚 much easier with guidance from others. It鈥檚 important to seek advice from those who can help you move in the right direction.鈥�

Ratu says he decided to begin his master鈥檚 degree to upskill and help his community achieve more in academia. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really difficult to apply the principles of education to a diverse group. A one-size-fits-all approach to education doesn鈥檛 work sometimes.听

鈥淲e鈥檝e got to help our Pacific community use the skills they have to move forward into a diverse and very fast-paced environment, while still being themselves. I want to support a bicultural education. I can speak Tongan but I鈥檓 also learning M膩ori and improving my knowledge of M膩oritanga.鈥�

He is keen to encourage more Pacific and M膩ori students to follow his example and discover the benefits of a tertiary education. He is currently a Pacific mentor at UC as well as an executive member of Te Akatoki鈥疢膩ori Students鈥� Association.

鈥淚 think education isn鈥檛 talked about enough in our community. There is a lot of acceptance of what is and not a lot of critique,鈥� he says. 鈥淓specially with growing Pacific communities in the South Island, we hope that we can boost the number of Pacific students getting into higher education. There needs to be a feeling that higher education is relevant for them and they can thrive in that environment.

Ratu says relationship building and fostering trust between the community, teachers and students is a vital part of the learning process. This is known as whanaungatanga in te ao M膩ori and tauhi v膩 in Tonga.听

鈥淚t鈥檚 really vital to have that knowledge and understanding between students and teachers; being able to talk to the students and find out what they need and what educational approach will work for them.鈥�

Ratu has taught mainly in primary schools, including several years at St Teresa鈥檚 School in Christchurch, and most of his coaching has been for the Marist Albion Rugby Club in Papanui.

He鈥檚 about to start a PhD exploring the role of sport in maintaining and revitalising culture among women. All his four daughters play rugby, including Martha Mataele (nee Lolohea) and Atlanta Lolohea who have both played for the Black Ferns and locally for Matat奴 鈥� both sisters were part of Matat奴鈥檚 championship-winning Super Rugby Aupiki side of 2023 鈥� so it鈥檚 a topic that鈥檚 close to his heart.听 听 听

鈥淚t鈥檚 directly relevant to me, and I feel there鈥檚 a lot to be learnt,鈥� he says. 鈥淭he more support we can give our young ladies the better. I think it鈥檚 really important in the broad scheme of things.鈥�

Ratu believes learning is a lifelong process and is keen to challenge himself by launching into his PhD research. 鈥淚 know that鈥檚 a clich茅, but it鈥檚 true. You can鈥檛 leave your mind, your body and your spirit to wither. They all need to be taken care of throughout your life. If you look at the cultures and the people that do those things, they lead a fruitful and happy life.鈥澨�