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FALE PASIFIKA ADDS TO UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND |
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By
Ruci
Farrell |
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The new $6 million home of the Centre for Pacific Studies which opens
in October brings a fresh perspective to the grey austere halls of
residence and century old heritage buildings in Auckland’s Wynyard St.
Bearing the shape of a giant Samoan meeting house, the Fale Pasifika
complex at the University of Auckland reinforces the symbolic
connections Aotearoa shares with its Pacific relatives.
Dr Melanie Anae, Director of the Centre for Pacific Studies, expects
the Fale Pasifika complex will meet the modern needs of more than 2000
Pacific students at the university, as well as countless other students
whose areas of interest cross into Pacific studies and the Pacific
communities of Auckland.
From this location the university will run a new Pacific Curriculum in
which a wide range of programmes taught at the university will be
clustered and made more accessible to Pacific students and communities
within the Pacific, she said.
“Our centre is the only one in the world that teaches Samoan, Tongan
and Cook Islands Maori languages and these will be enhanced greatly by
bolstering the programme with other Pacific based courses.”
“I see it as a breeding ground for our future Pacific leaders. When I
say Pacific I am inclusive of Maori and Tangata Whenua. We now have
space for our staff, students and scholars to research, consolidate and
produce top quality Pacific research done by Pacific researchers.
“Up until now they have been done by a variety of others. We can
contribute to that by creating unique methodology as a way forward to
helping us grow knowledge about Pacific peoples culture.”
Dr Anae anticipates an influx of students enrolling to take up
Pacific-specific courses at the new complex which includes a two storey
academic wing, a language laboratory, a multimedia department and
administration block.
“Now we are able to offer a PhD in Pacific Studies from next year and
we are also in the process of forming a Pacific Studies consortium for
NZ. At the moment it’s Victoria University with Teresia Teiawa and
Canterbury University at the Macmillan |
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View of the impressive Pasefika Fale at Auckland University now
ready for official opening. |
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Art wing of the Pasefika Fale at Auckland University now ready
for the official opening. |
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Symmetrical lashings that bind the high wooden beams inside the
fale were done by Tongan artist Filipe Tohi using brown and
black coconut coir from Fiji. |
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Brown Centre with Karen Nero and
us here in Auckland.”
“The three institutions have consolidated into a consortium of Pacific
Studies so we take the strengths that each university has to offer and
work together to enhance the programme,” Dr Anae said.
“Plus the University of Hawaii is also thinking of offering a PhD in
Pacific Studies so we are working on a kind of programme where students
can spend time in Hawaii and come to NZ as part of their programme.”
At the ground breaking ceremony last year, Prime Minister Helen Clark,
mentioned that in her years of study at Auckland University from 1968
through the early 70s she could think of only two Pacific students —
now they number close to 2000.
“The Fale Pasifika will lift it to a whole new level and I can see this
is a vision which you have worked at for a long time. It’s been 10
years in the making and now $6 million worth of construction has gone
on the site,” the PM said.
Fale Pasifika was designed by Ivan Mercep of Jasmax Architects who also
worked on a number of marae including the university marae next to the
fale and on Te Papa. Mr Mercep adapted the technique used to emboss art
onto the windows of Te Papa to imprint Pacific art on the street side
windows of the fale’s academic wing.
The nine paintings in the academic wing are the work of Niuean artist
John Pule, the symmetrical lashings that bind the high wooden beams
inside the fale were done by Tongan artist Filipe Tohi using brown and
black coconut coir from Fiji and a tall archway at the entrance to the
malae was created by artist Tomoi Kaloni also from Tonga.
The fale which has a moveable stage that rises 11 metres seats up to
300. Leading up to the fale is the malae or greeting area which has
been paved by Tania Short. On the malae are seven six metre tall steel
frigate birds created by Jim Viviare.
A page from Ivan Mercep’s plans describes the fale as a symbolic
structure in the centre of each village that signals the existence of
ongoing community culture and provides space for discussions, teaching
and learning.
The fale is open from the eaves to floor with no side walls for open
ventilation. The enclosing walls are fully glazed with folding doors.
Its roof comprises laminated curved rafters over round purlins with a
plywood skin on top over which the central portion is of finely grooved
plywood.
Ceremonies to open the Fale Pasifika on October 2 will continue through
the week with Tangata Whenua and Pacific leaders invited to take part
in the blessing of the complex.
The programme will include an academic workshop where Pacific
dignitaries and community leaders will be invited to stay for
roundtable discussions, workshops and seminars with Pacific scholars
and academic students.
Ten years of anticipation, $6 million worth of construction and the
blessings of Tangata Whenua and Pacific leaders will hold the Fale
Pasifika in good stead for the future of Pasifika education in New
Zealand.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd. 2004
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