Higher education in New Zealand : a form of fakalakalaka for educated Tongan women? : a consideration of the perspectives of educated Tongan women on their experiences of higher education in New Zealand, and how this relates to fakalakalaka : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Education, Massey University

The key focus of this research is to understand whether or not higher education in New Zealand is a meaningful form of fakalakalaka for educated Tongan women. This research firstly considers the analytic frames of educated Tongan women derived from theories in literature about Pasifika education, holistic dimensions, fakalakalaka, Tongan culture and identity. Secondly, this research considers these ‘everyday’ frames of thought alongside the images built up from the data gathered from talanoa (dialogue) with educated Tongan women in New Zealand. It is in the comparison of these two aspects of information that we can ‘challenge’ theories in literature, as well as ponder the range of ‘perspectives’ presented in talanoa of educated Tongan women (Ragin, 2011). This consideration of the perspectives of educated Tongan women seeks to inform university educators and New Zealand tertiary sector policy-writers of the significance of supporting the holistic dimensions of learners, particularly Pasifika, in their higher education. The talanoa of the educated Tongan women have been captured and re-told in this study with the hope that it will better pave the pathway of further fakalakalaka for the next generation seeking higher education in New Zealand