The thematic currency of this paper is a post-covid concern. My "talatalanoa" sits alongside Pacific educators' voices in this volume of the Waikato Journal of Education, colleagues from Aotearoa New Zealand's Realm Nations of the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. While adopting a place-based and Indigeno-centric Pasifika/Pacific gaze…

As an Aotearoa New Zealand (Aotearoa NZ) realm nation, Tokelau people are part of the diverse Pasifika fabric that represents Pacific immigrants in this settler-colonial nation. Despite Tokelau's contentious geo-political history and climate vulnerability in Te Moananui-a-Kiwa, this paper briefly provides some of my inspirations and motivations as…

Every poem has a creation talanoa: a story of how it was written. In a Rotuman context, 'talanoa' or story, can either be a 'rogrog/o' or 'hanuju'. From conception to final drafting, the creation hanuju can reveal the often-volatile relationship between a poet's internal self-talk and external historical and contemporary experiences. Memories…

This paper is a consideration of how the method/methodology of "talanoa" and "va," can be used online by Pacific researchers to respond to the current pandemic's effect on the traditional face-to-face physical spaces used for knowledge-sharing. The following discussion examines and explores the two concepts: "talanoa"…

This article proposes a Samoan Indigenous philosophical position to reconceptualise the dialogic spaces of "talanoa"; particularly how "talanoa" is applied methodologically to research practice. "Talanoa" within New Zealand Pacific research scholarship is problematised, raising particular tensions of the universal and…

Pacific practice is grounded in "vanua" and "fonua," Fijian and Tongan terms encapsulating notions of land, culture and people. "Fono at the Fale" and "Veiqaraqaravi Vakavanua" are expressions of "vanua" and "fonua" cultural practice and are facilitated by, and through, the use of kava.…

COVID-19 has had a major impact on collectivist cultures and their means of social interaction and maintaining contact with those in their wider community. This has particularly been the case for Pacific peoples living in diaspora, with COVID-19 preventing travel home and social distancing and forced lockdowns restricting the ability to gather.…

Given the current impact of COVID-19, the learning experiences of Pasifika students within tertiary education has implicated their social and emotional wellbeing. Engaging in a Tongan learning approach, such as "fakalukuluku," can present a viable learning practice for tertiary students' learning experiences. This paper presents the…

Understanding, articulating and managing relationality, the state of being related, is a central feature of research, teaching and other people-centred matters in the Pacific. Although various groups in this diverse region, Indigenous and otherwise, bring their own concepts and protocols to relationships, physical, social and spiritual connection…

Education in Oceania continues to reflect the embedded implicit and explicit colonial practices and processes from the past. This paper conceptualises a cultural approach to education and leadership appropriate and relevant to the Republic of the Marshall Islands. As elementary school leaders, we highlight "Kanne Lobal," a traditional…

This study aims to investigate the experiences of Solomon Islands students during the shift to online, remote teaching during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It utilises the "tokstori" to collect data from 16 Solomon Islands students of the University of the South Pacific's (USP) Suva and Honiara campuses. It is framed and analysed…

The appointment of the University of Waikato's first Assistant Vice-Chancellor Pacific in February 2019 was an important milestone, not only recognising years of work and dedication by numerous Pacific and Maori staff, but triggering a new strategic direction for 'Pacific at Waikato'. This paper explains that journey, one that is underpinned by…