Songs from the heart – embedding Tapasā

Singing from the heart is a story of aganu’u (culture), fiafia (celebration), and alofa (love) through song. 

The palagi kaiako at Netherby Merle Leask Kindergarten acknowledge the richness of Pacific cultures, values, languages, and their ways of knowing, being, and doing. These kaiako believe that what Pacific learners and their aiga bring needs to be visible, acknowledged, and celebrated as part of their localised curriculum at the kindergarten. 

Kaiako were already set on their journey to engage, build, and strengthen their relationships with their Pacific learners, families, and communities. They realised that this was an ongoing journey — a journey that requires navigation through Tapasā. They committed to improving their practice by engaging with new ideas as well as consolidating what they had already learned.

They began with themselves and asked, “How effectively does our teaching practice enable our Pasifika tamaiti to be successful learners?” 

Working with Tapasā, the kaiako realised they had to start with their own stories and cultural narratives to better understand and “appreciate the ethnic-specific identities, qualities, and contexts of each of their Pacific learners”¹. Once that understanding was in place, their relationships with whānau and the community flourished. 

Pacific cultural symbols and languages were woven into every aspect of their pedagogy, from wall displays to rich, meaningful learning stories, which authentically engaged Pacific learners and their families. Pacific learners were acknowledged and celebrated, and their cultures were seen, heard, and felt right throughout their kindergarten. 

One Monday morning, the kaiako heard two tamaiti (children) on the swings singing. Singing often happened spontaneously at the playdough table and the kai table. Kaiako recognised the importance of singing, including children singing their Sunday School songs, as a valued cultural experience of family, home, church, and community. 

In response, kaiako were curious and asked the children to help them learn the Sunday School songs. The kaiako could already sing Pusi Nofo, a favourite Samoan pese (song), and knew that singing a Samoan pese could also be used to soothe and comfort children. 

At fiafia night, an event held regularly at the kindergarten, kaiako can now join in the singing and celebrate being together with their Pacific learners and their families.  

To begin using Tapasā, you can:

• start by knowing yourself and how your own cultural values influence your teaching 
• dig deeper to understand the cultures, languages, and identities of Pacific learners 
• learn a word, a phrase, or a song from your Pacific learners and their families 
• work collaboratively to break down barriers and establish authentic relationships in the community 
• recognise and respect the contributions of others – make sure these can be seen, heard, and felt.

Glossary 

• Aiga: Family 
• Aganu’u: Culture 
• Alofa: Love 
• Fanau: Children 
• Fiafia: Celebration 
• Palagi: Non-Pacific person 
• Pese: Song 
• Pusi nofo: A well-known Samoan children’s song about a cat sitting on a mat 
• Tamaiti: Children 

Reference 

1. Tapasā: Cultural competencies framework for teachers of Pacific learners, (2018), Wellington: Ministry of Education. p.8.