Meet the Pacific Student Success team , Te Tima Tauira Pasifika Angitu

"Talofa lava, Malo lava le soifua maua ma le lagi mama, viia lava le Alii."

Melvin is of Samoan heritage, from the villages of Faleasiu and Apia. He was born and raised in South Auckland, New Zealand, is married and has four children.

Melvin holds a Master’s in philosophy (social policy) from Massey University and is an experienced senior lecturer in Social Work. He has worked in education management and non-profit organisations, and is skilled in youth development, coaching, clinical and cultural supervision, and event management.

Melvin is an avid surfer and paddler, enjoying fishing and the outdoors. He strongly believes in the promotion of aiga, self-care, fitness, health, wealth, and wellbeing for all. He looks forward to using his experience and skills to lead his team in achieving Pacific student success at Massey University.

"O le ala I le pule o le tautua (The pathway to authority is through service)" – Samoan proverb

Peter studies the adaptive potential of plants, pests and pathogens. He co-leads a joint French-New Zealand project with the CNRS (the French National Centre for Scientific Research), which is a laboratory-without-walls investigating the adaptive potential of New Zealand alpine and French Kerguelen Island plants.

He is coordinator of a UNESCO UNITWIN Network Science for Sustainability in Oceania that is developing in-field DNA diagnostics for plant, animal and human health. His scientific achievements earned him an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship and New Zealand Royal Society Fellowship.

Learn more about Peter's research expertise, projects and outputs

Mālō lava le soifua maua ma le lagi mamā:

Tuilagi Dr. Igelese Ete, from the villages of Faleālupo, Fatausi, Lalomālava, and Vaovai in Samoa, holds the chiefly title of Tuilagi. Born in Samoa, he migrated to Aotearoa at seven. He is married to Vasiti and has four children and two grandchildren.

Igelese started his music career as a young organist and choir director at the Samoan EFKS Newtown church, where his parents were pastors. He later earned a Bachelor of Music (Well), a Post-Graduate Diploma in Teaching (Whitireia), a Master of Music with Honours (UOA), and a PhD from AUT.

Currently the Associate Dean: Pacific at Massey University, Dr. Ete is passionate about empowering Pacific communities. His remarkable work includes serving as the New Zealand choirmaster for The Lord of the Rings and arranging music for Disney’s Moana.

Dr. Ete is committed to empowering Pacific students, using the power of Pacific Creative Arts to uplift and transform lives.

Jodie has broad research interests in Pacific education and the teaching and learning of mathematics.

She has been involved in collaborative work with teachers and students at a national level to facilitate change in their mathematics classrooms. Her previous research at Plymouth University in the UK included a focus on developing early algebraic reasoning in primary classrooms – covering professional development, classroom and mathematical practices, and student perspectives.

Jodie has a growing interest in culturally sustaining teaching development for Pacific students in the mathematics classroom. This includes considering the cultural, linguistic and social contexts of Pacific students and growing stronger home/community and school partnerships.

More about Jodie's research expertise, projects and outputs.

Janice Ikiua-Pasi is based at Fale Bilong Iumi on the Wellington campus. She is here to support and advocate for all Pacific distance learning students and answer questions to make sure your journey within Massey University has a positive impact in your life. If she does not have an answer then she will track down the person who does.

Janice is proud of her Niue culture. She has studied and worked in various tertiary institutions around New Zealand, is a published poet, and dabbles in spoken word and tinkering with niu ideas for niu journeys.

Kotalo is Samoan and Tuvaluan, and still to discover Niuean and Hawaiian roots. She helps to navigate the waters of Massey University with College of Humanities and Social Sciences Pacific students, Psychology students in particular, and welcomes students to get in touch.

Kotalo's role also includes being the Research Officer and Youth lead for the ‘Caring for our Pacific Wisdom Bearers study’ with Dr Siautu Alefaio-Tugia.

“Talofa lava, malo le soifua”

Mapu is of Samoan decent and has been a part of the Pacific Student Success for the past 3 years. She holds a Master Degree in business professional, graduating from Victoria University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Massey University. Her background is in Communications, Management and Finance Administrations. She loves working with youth and people form all walks of life and diverse backgrounds. Mapu loves being active and enjoy activities that involves physical movements and being fit.

She is a proud Christian and believes all that she is and what she has is through Christ who strengthens her. She is also proud to serve in this role as her way of giving back.

Faafetai lava,

Tali is from the Island of Niue, was born and raised, and completed a BA in Politics with a minor in Defence studies and a Post-graduate in International Security. Alister is an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, a foundation he upholds and values dearly. Alister served six years of full-time service (2005-2012) as a professional soldier with the Royal NZ Infantry and continues as a reservist. Alister enjoys daily physical training and Sundays as a rest day, spending time with his kids, eating good food, and being John Rambo.

Professor Rukmani Gounder comes from Nadi, Fiji, and obtained her primary and secondary education in Nadi and Bachelor’s degree in Economics (Fiji Government Scholar) from the University of the South Pacific (Suva).

Rukmani’s research has largely been in the areas of economics and social development with an applied economics framework in the Asia-Pacific nations.

She was elected as a chairperson of the Pacific@Massey Network in 2007, and until 2013 served as a member of Pacific Research and Policy Centre. She also served as a Chairperson of the Pacific Development Working Committee, Massey Business School (MBS). Now she serves as the Massey Business School (MBS) representative in the management group at the School, MBS and University levels, and as a member of the Pacific Research and Policy Centre.

Rukmani can advise Pacific students on their courses, assist in their needs, provide clarification about Economics courses, and address any academic concerns.

Read more about Rukmani's research, background and qualifications

Tracie is keen to support and mentor students considering postgraduate research.

Her work promotes the advancement of Pacific cultural knowledges and ways –within social work and social development, regionally and internationally.

Areas of focus include cultural humility, anti-racist practice, Indigenous helping systems and practices, community development, youth development, higher education, research capacity strengthening, and qualitative and arts-based research methods.

More about Tracie's research expertise, projects and outputs.

Ko Pārengarenga te moana
Ko Tawhitiahi te maunga
Ko Awapoka te awa
Ko au ko Nicole Mincher.

Fakalofa lahi atu.

Nicole is a registered educational psychologist and came to Massey from the Ministry of Education and Explore Specialist Advice. She has a particular interest in equity in education, and how schools and systems can best support our tamariki, kaiako and whānau. She hopes to have the opportunity to learn alongside you.

Any students interested in anything educational psychology related, or with any questions about course content, training pathways or working as an educational psychologist, should get in touch with Nicole.

More about Nicole's research expertise, projects and outputs.

Lara Thompson is one of the BASE+ Pacific Student Advisors and focuses on helping students with academic questions. She runs one-on-one academic advice sessions and is passionate about enabling Pacific students to achieve.

Lara loves to chat and believes that a 'Talk to Write' approach works well for enabling students to find their voice and way through writing tasks. Her Master's degree focused on postcolonial theory and literature.

Lara is Samoan through her mother, Lineta Eti Eves and is proudly linked to the villages of Vailima, Sa’anapu, and Satuipa’itea (among others). She worked in Malifa, Samoa near a giant mango tree that stood near the site of a fale that her family lived in, her grandfather being a former school inspector many moons ago.
When not at work helping students, Lara dedicates her time to her children, wider fanau, fixing her old house, and making her garden behave.

John is originally from Tonga, (of Tongan and Fijian descent) and was educated in the United States. He teaches courses in mathematics and education, and his research focuses on enhancing Māori and Pacific students' achievement in mathematics, as part of the Developing Mathematical Inquiry Communities (DMIC) initiative.

John is available to mentor Pacific students throughout their education. His other research interests include analysing advanced mathematical thinking and teaching and learning discrete mathematics (more specifically, the algorithmatising approach).

Read more about John's research outputs, expertise and other information