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Wednesday, February 11, 2009
PEC Team
OWEN LEWIS
Executive Director
Owen Lewis is the Executive Director for the Pasifika Education Centre. Owen’s background is from the island of Mangaia in the Cook Islands. After completing his education in Mangaia and Rarotonga, Owen came to New Zealand in the early eighties as a Cook Islands scholarship student and studied towards a Bachelor of Science and Diploma in Teaching before returning to the Cook Islands to teach.
Since returning to New Zealand some 18 years ago, Owen has worked within the health, education, and social service sectors. He has gained significant management experience with Te Wananga O Aotearoa in Hamilton, Te Runanga O Te Rarawa in the Far North and more recently with the Deaf Association of New Zealand.
Owen has both studied and managed organisations involved in all levels of the education sector. He has experienced the trials and tribulations of endeavouring to succeed in the New Zealand education system whilst studying in the Pacific Islands and in New Zealand as a Pacific scholarship student. This has significantly influenced how he perceives the education system and has made him extremely appreciative of the issues affecting Pasifika in the education and social sector in New Zealand. As a result he is extremely passionate about the Pasifika Education Centre and the role that it needs to play in making a significant difference to the educational outcomes of all Pasifika in New Zealand.
JOCELYN WALKER
Administration Manager
Administration Manager Jocelyn Walker is the longest-serving member of the Pasifika Education Centre team. She ensures the bills are paid, paperwork is completed and that everyone is supported in their roles. She is the first point of contact for suppliers and processes orders for PEC resources on sale to the public. No stranger to hard work Jocelyn and husband Eddie have also owned and operated a tomato-growing farm, a newspaper and magazine store and an inner-city late night bar and cafe.
MALIANIVE ATKINSON
Receptionist
Malo e lelei, ko hoku hingoa ko Malianive Havealeta Atkinson. Ko 'eku ha'u mei Ha'afeva, Ha'apai, Lulunga, Tonga. Na'a 'ku ako 'i Queen Salote College, Tonga. I he taimi ni 'oku ou ngaue 'i he Pasifika Education Centre koe receptionist.
Malianive Atkinson is the Receptionist at the Pasifika Education Centre. Born and raised in Ha'afeva, Ha'apai group, Tonga and educated at Queen Salote College in Nukualofa's Kolofo'ou, Malianive is fluent in Tongan and communicates with native Tongan speakers that visit the Centre. In 2006, Malia's first experience at the Pasifika Education Centre was as a student, on a pilot program called "Who am I?". In her own words, "I came to the course because I wanted to be more confident speaking English. Learning how to use a computer was a bonus."
Upon graduating from the "Who am I?" course Malianive was offered the role of Receptionist, thus realising her childhood dream of working in an office environment. An integral member of the Centre's staff, Malianive takes pride in her work which includes greeting visitors, dealing with phone inquiries and selling resources. Malianive also fulfills administrative duties such as assisting the Languages Coordinator to maintain accurate student records and assisting the Administration Manager with financial records, banking, sorting incoming and outgoing mail and ordering and stocktaking books and other learning resources. Malianive has a testimony of the importance of continuing education and has completed 2 further courses by correspondence since being employed at Pasifika Education Centre.
EVELYN STANLEY
Resource Management
Evelyn Stanley, whose ethnic roots are from Vaimoso, Samoa and Alofi, Niue, very proudly states that first and foremost, she is a Mother. After 30 years of taking care of her children she gained a position of Administrator for a Private Training Establishment in Manukau. After being there for 5 years Evelyn moved to Auckland University of Technology becoming the Personal Assistant/Administrator to the then Director, La'auli Michael Jones in the Office of Pasifika Advancement. From there she has progressively moved to become the Personal Assistant/Administrator to former Pasifika Education Centre Director Ms Pauline Winter, and now current Director Owen Lewis. The role has been diverse in the different areas that she has undertaken from overseeing conferences, upgrading the Pasifika Resources Library and assisting where and when needed for Pasifika Education Centre - A role she thoroughly enjoys.
HOLEVA TUPOU
Online Job Search Tutor 
Fifita Holeva Tupou (nee Lataimaumi) was born and raised in Vaini, Tonga and attended Queen Salote College and Tupou High School.
A firm believer in the value of education, Holeva returned to education after raising 4 children. In 2007 she graduated from Auckland Institute of Studies with a Bachelor of International Business majoring in Business Management. In 2008 she completed a Post Graduate Diploma of Business from AUT and in 2009 added to that a Masters in Business
In January 2009 Holeva accepted the position of Tutor for the Who am I program and managed the program well until late 2009 when some changes were proposed and what resulted is the current Online Job Search Program. which Holeva still manages today.
SELWYN TUPOU
Education Advisor
- Adult and Community Education
Selwyn Tupou is the Education Advisor for Community Education and is one of 2 existing staff that has been with Pasfika Education Centre since the days it was known as PIERC Education and located in the heart of Otahuhu. Of mixed heritage - his father from Pangai in the Ha'apai Islands group of Tonga and his mother from Satuimalufilufi, Western Samoa - Selwyn was born and raised in Auckland. After graduating from Mount Albert Grammar School, Selwyn put education on hold to spend 2 years in Australia as a Full-Time Missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Upon returning to New Zealand he pursued studies at the University of Auckland and completed a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Linguistics. After 18 months as an ESOL Teacher in Central Auckland, Selwyn 'migrated' south and joined the then PIERC Education team as a Literacy Tutor working with fellow Pasifika students on the "This is IT!" Literacy Course, the Introduction to Teaching Certificate course for 2 years. Selwyn was instrumental in designing, marketing and then running the Ministry of Social Development-funded "Who am I?" program for 2 and a half years.
With 6 years teaching experience in Adult Education, Selwyn aims to increase pasifika involvement in Adult and Community Education by making sure programs are relevant, culturally sensitive and accessible for Pasifika communities.
Selwyn also has over 5 years teaching experience in the Church Education System of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and is currently a supervisor for early-morning scripture classes that LDS High-school students attend each morning.
TE RIHIA MANNING
Training Coordinator
Mai I nga kahui maunga ki tangaroa,
ko au te awa ko te awa ko au.
Ko nga Turi O Murimotu nga maunga
Ko Whangaehu te awa
Ko Ngati Rangi te Iwi
Ko te Marae tuturu a Tirorangi
Ko te Atai Waho toku Tupuna
Ko Kataraina Pekamu Waho toku mama
Ko Te Rihia Manning taku ingoa,
Te Rihia Manning was originally seconded to Pasifika Education Centre from Hapai Te Hauora Tapui, a Maori Public Health Provider, based in Epsom. Her original role at PEC was to support the development of the policies and procedures that would enable PEC to maintain their registration as a Private Training Establishment. Since 2010 Te Rihia's role has become more of a Training Coordinator, facilitating the promotion and implementation of courses held at PEC as a result of a joint venture with Te Wananga O Aotearoa. A vastly experienced community worker Te Rihia has also played competitive Touch Rugby at the highest level in NZ.
KONELIO SEUMANUTAFA
Computer Tutor
Konelio Seumanutafa is PEC’s Computer Tutor. Konelio was born in Savaii, Samoa’s largest island. Raised in the village of Matautu in the town of Apia, Konelio was educated at Samoa’s great rugby school, Avele College.
The father of 3 recently became the treasurer for the Immanuel Community Trust which is attached to the Immanuel Worship Centre for which he also serves as an Elder and a keyboardist in the church band. With a passion for music, Konelio operates a home-based music studio where he recorded and released his debut album in November 2007 entitled Mana o Viiga, which translates into English as The Power of Praise.
In 2004, Konelio commenced studies in Melbourne, Australia completing these in 2006 in New Zealand gaining a Level 5 qualification as a Computer Technician.