News, achievements & upcoming events
‘We are fighting for the language’: What’s at the heart of aoga amata teacher shortages?
Editor – Spinoff
Madeleine Chapman
17 July 2024
Sāmoan is the third most commonly spoken language in Aotearoa, unsurprising given the steady flow of Sāmoan migrants since the 1950s. But while those who migrated in the 50s, 60s and 70s spoke Sāmoan as a primary language, their children learned English, with Sāmoan often only only at home and church, rarely written or learned in a structured setting. It’s those children’s children who are now in aoga amata, learning the Sāmoan language every day in a way few of their parents were able to. Aoga amata provide a service to Sāmoan parents, offering cultural knowledge and faith-based learning alongside the standard numeracy, literacy and play. But they’re also swimming upstream.
The SAASIA fonotele 2023 blends Samoan heritage and language with modern education
12 December 2023
The SAASIA Fonotele 2023, held under the theme “O le tele o sulu e maua ai figota,” brought together educators and community leaders in Wellington to explore the integration of Samoan culture in modern education. The event opened with insightful speeches from Reno Paotonu and Susuga Sofaea Penn, emphasising the importance of incorporating cultural values in educational strategies. Their addresses laid a thoughtful foundation for the conference, underlining the need for cultural sensitivity in shaping educational policies and practices. The conference was notably enriched by the presence of numerous teachers from various Aoga Amata across New Zealand, bringing a diverse range of experiences and perspectives to the discussions.
Pacific Education Winner SAASIA 2020
11 December 2020
The video from December 11, 2020, titled “#SunPixAwards2020,” captures the moment when the Sosaiete Aoga Amata Samoa I Aotearoa (SAASIA) receives the Ministry of Education Pacific Education Award. In this significant event, SAASIA is recognized for its over 30 years of dedication to fostering Samoan identity, language, and culture among children in New Zealand, particularly through early childhood education. The video likely features representatives from SAASIA, including its then-Director, Salā Pafitimai Fa’asaulala Tagoilelagi-Leota (PhD), accepting the award and possibly addressing the organization’s mission and achievements.
Conference tackles cultural transition
3 October 2019
S.A.A.S.I.A National President, Sala Dr. Faasaulala Tagoilelagi-Leota. (Photo: Talaia Mika)
A New Zealand-based organisation, Sosaiete Aoga Amata Samoa i Aotearoa (S.A.A.S.I.A), staged a conference at the National University of Samoa (N.U.S) this week. The two-day conference was guided by the theme “Cultural Transition can happen.” This is the third time the organisation has held its conference in Samoa.
President, Sala Dr. Fa’asaulala Tagoilelagi-Leota, told the Samoa Observer that bringing the meeting to Samoa was very important to their group and their goals. “We can get all the knowledge in the world but cultural knowledge is our philosophy in New Zealand,” she said.
Pacific preschools 'set back 30 years' by tough English-language tests
Samoan Language Nest Society President Dr Sal? Fa’asaulala Tagoilelagi-Leota discusses intake for courses.
15 Jan 2018
A New Zealand-based organisation, Sosaiete Aoga Amata Samoa i Aotearoa (S.A.A.S.I.A), staged a conference at the National University of Samoa (N.U.S) this week. The two-day conference was guided by the theme “Cultural Transition can happen.” This is the third time the organisation has held its conference in Samoa.
President, Sala Dr. Fa’asaulala Tagoilelagi-Leota, told the Samoa Observer that bringing the meeting to Samoa was very important to their group and their goals. “We can get all the knowledge in the world but cultural knowledge is our philosophy in New Zealand,” she said.
9 December 2019
Pasifika Futures supports the achievement of Samoan Early Childhood Education teachers, encouraging development and success for the learning outcomes of our Pacific children and families living in New Zealand.
Ia Maua’a I suiga talafeagai – Be bold with relevant changes. The theme for this year’s 35th Annual National Conference put on by the Sosaiete A’oga Amata Samoa I Aotearoa (S.A.A.S.I.A) at the Brentwood Hotel, Wellington from 29-30 September.
9 December 2019
Date: 29–30 September.
Venue: Belmont Hotel, 16 Kemp St, Kilbirnie, Wellington.
Call for Workshops
Theme: Ia Maua’a I Suiga Talafeagai (Be bold with relevant changes).
Filifili mai i vaega nei se mataupu e te fia faasoa ai, e lagolagoina ai la tatou manulauti: The following topics are for you to select one for your presentation. in order to support the above theme:
Suesuega (research); Faale-agaga (spirituality/Christianity); Polotiki ma aiaiga (politics and policies); Aganuu ma le gagana (culture and language); Pulega (governance); Paaga a aoga amata ma tulaga lua (transition); Iloiloga (assessment/evaluation); Tautai matapalapala (leadership); Tomatau (curriculum); Taiala o le gagana Samoa (Samoan language curriculum); Toe timata le upega (self-review); Agatausili o aoga amata (cultural values).
E faagata talosaga mo sau folasaga i le Aso Gafua 31 o Iulai. (Closing date for abstracts is Monday 31 July).
Registration fee: $300-SAASIA non-members, $250-SAASIA members only. $150 per day – daily rate. Food is covered in the registration.
Contact: Tilala Tago Leota [email protected], Leautuli’ilagi Sauvao [email protected], May Crichton [email protected]
22 September 2007
2007 SAASIA Conference opening, Luamanuvao Dame Winifred Alexandra Laban
Taloha ni, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Namaste, Kia orana koutou katoatoa, Ia Orana, Gud de tru olgeta, Talofa, Kia ora tatau and Warm Pacific Greetings to you all this morning.
Ae ou te le’i tautala i se upu, Tulou! E muamua lava ona ou fa’atulou tulouna le paia ma le mamalu o Samoa ua aofia I lenei taeao matagofie, E’e ia fa’atama-sa le au faigaluega a le Atua ma o outou faletua, aemaise le loaloa o tupu ma tamali’I, faletua ma tausi, sa’oao se’I o’o lava I alo ma fanau – Ia taoto fa’amaene o tai loloto le paia maualuga o Samoa ua potopoto.
O le ā ou lē a lei i le lau-ā-manu, ae ou te tuli-mata’i le fa’amuli o atu. Pe sala la’u gagana – tulou! O faiva lava o lima tautala.
30 September 2005
SAASIA Mapusaga Fou Hall, Ferrymead – Christchurch, Taito Phillip Field
Susuga i alii faifeau ma o latou faletua, le mamalu o le nofo-a-laulau peresitene o lala eseese faapea faiaoga ma matua ae tainane le taitaifono o le fonoaoao faaletausaga le faletua ia Iolesina Tagoilelagi ma le laulau faapea le paia maualuga i sui auai uma o le Faalapotopotoga a le Sosaiete o Aoga Amata a Samoa i Niu Sila nei, o le mua-gagana ua masani ai si o tatou atunuu,” O lupe sa vaoeseese a ua fuifui faatasi” ma o le fonotaga ua amataina i le a-so, o se tasi lea o pine, o le fai mea mafai ma le sailimalo oa tatou tagata o lo o aumau i Niu Sila nei…faamalo atu i lo outou ma’ema’ea ma lo outou filiga, ina ia siitia le sao o aoga amata, i le galuega fita…faale-aoaoga i totonu o Aotearoa.
O se mitamitaga ia te a’u, ina ua maua lenei avanoa e faatasi mai ai e molimauina, la outou galuega fita, i lona 15 lenei o fonotaga faaletausaga a le Sosaiete Aoga Amata a Samoa i totonu o Aotearoa. E’e mai a i ou seetaga malu, ae se i o’u liliu ane, e faigata la outou valaau faaaloalo.