Enosa Auva’aCarol Cardno

The context – Pasifika in NZNew Zealand is a South pacific nation. Pacific Islanders in

New Zealand includes Fijian,Niuean,Samoan,Tokelau and Tongan.

Urban settlement: 97% of the Pasifika population.Auckland has 66.7% of the total New Zealand PI

population (Ministry of Education, 2004).Currently one child in ten is PI, a ratio projected to rise to

one in five by 2051 (Ministry of Education, 2004).The number of Pacific Islanders (PI) in principalship

position had grown from 0.6% in 1998 to 0.9% in 2004 (Ministry of Education 2005).

In 2006 around 86% of principals were of European origin, 9% of Maori origin and 5% of “other” ethnic origin (Brooking, 2007).

My Story

Pacific Islander born in SamoaMigrated to New Zealand 1970Started my teaching career in 1982Senior management positions in 1989Principal 1991Pathway Experiences as a Pacific Island Educational

Leader.

Reflective question

Have we got similar stories from other ethnic minority groups here and could we

share them among ourselves?

The Research StudyThis research investigated conditions and factors,

reasonings and explanations of why there are so few PI principals in New Zealand schools.

The participants of this study were PI teachers working as AP/DPs in primary and intermediate schools in the Auckland area.

Pacific Island perspective research.

Personal motivation as a pacific island principal.

Key findings of the Study

Lack of confidenceUnavailability of professional networkingLack of career planningEthnicity barriersEthnicity advantagesNeed for targeted leadership development

Lack of confidenceWith the system and in their ability to manage

themselves within it.Having little or no experience in a leadership role.Lack of qualifications.Personal confidence and preparation.Socialisation experiences for example the school’s

professional development programme.Appointment process.To talk about their own real experiences (Silent

Voice).

Unavailability of professional networking

Inadequate network and resources.

Did not have the support to consider principalship as a career option.

Lack of career planningParticipants in this study had no experience of

career planning and were not engaged in this towards principal positions

They had been promoted serendipitouslyThey were not being given support for this from

other professionals“I fell into this relieving job as a senior teacher and

while I was at that school the AP job came up and I was appointed and then the DP fell ill and I was put in acting DP’s the DP passed away and our principal restructured ... so I was the DP, and here I am today.”

Ethnicity barriersBeing a PI was a barrier for achieving

promotion in higher roles in schools. They said:

“I hate to say ... NZ is a great country but there is element of racism ... I see it in people’s faces

when I turn up to my AP/DP meetings;” and “unless you are going into a community that is very much PI ... you’ve just got to work a little bit more harder in order to prove that you can

actually match your peers.”

Ethnicity enablersCritical mass required: A targeted professional

development on leadership to progress to higher roles in schools.

Increase Pacifc Island Role Model : Acknowledge the difficulties PIs face career making decision.

Research Pasifika leadership needs and that these needs are related to leadership development, to support the provision of relevant professional development.

Need for targeted leadership development A key finding of this study was for a PI-specific

programme to be set up for PIs aiming for principalship

their specific needs would to be addressed by a such a programme.

such a programme would acknowledge their uniqueness as Pacific Islanders.

and would address issues specific to Pacific teachers.

A PI-specific programme would provide an additional way, and pathways, to a leadership development for a group that is already disadvantaged because of race and ethnic heritage .

Leadership developmentLeadership development has become a high priority

aspect of professional development in New ZealandKiwi Leadership for Principals and Professional

Leadership Plan 2009 – 2012 (http://www.educationalleaders.govt.nz/Leadership-development/Professional-Leadership-Plan)

Programmes for aspiring principals (2 out of 250 were Pasifika participants)

Programmes for experienced principals (launched)Pasifika plan refers to need to develop practising and

potential pasifika leaders in schoolsNo take-up as yet of the notion of targeted leadership

development for this ethnic minority group

Aims for a Pasifika LDPEnosa’s research found that the participants

were excited by the notion of a programme targeted to their specific needs

Such a programme couldReflect a particular Pacific Island learning cultureAllow participants to relax among similar ethnic

colleaguesBolster confidence because a unique Pacific

Island learning environment might feel ‘safer’ to open up in

The unique, targeted programme is not seen as an alternative to but an addition to the generic provision in the form of national programmes

The components of a Pasifika Leadership Development ProgrammeMy story - What is means to be a Pacific Island

leader (at all levels) in a schoolOther’s stories – How to succeed as a Pacific

Island principalHow to build networks inside and outside the

schoolHow to find mentorsCareer progression issues within the Pacific

Island communityKnowledge of roles and regulations for

appointmentHow to build confidence

Reflective question

What are your thoughts about the needs of this

group of aspiring Pasifika principals?

Wrap up What will change for this group of aspiring PI? How do we make things change? What could be tipping points for this group of aspiring

leaders?

As a Pacific Island Leader what were the tipping points for me?

Completing my Thesis: Aspiring Towards Principalship: A Pacific Island Perspective

Being awarded the New Zealand Fulbright Senior Scholar Award for 2010 What will I learn from the study of Minority leaders in principalship positions and what could this mean for PI aspiring leaders in New Zealand?