Dr Sesimani Havea.
When an exciting opportunity presented itself to pursue further study, Pacific Postgraduate Learning Advisor Dr Sesimani Havea decided it was time to take her studies to the next level. After completing her studies and likening it to a long marathon with lots of bumps and twists along the way, Dr Havea graduated recently with her PhD, with her family by her side.
Dr Havea migrated from Tonga to Aotearoa New Zealand with her family when she was young, in the hopes of pursuing more opportunities, particularly in education. She says this was a huge motivating factor for her - to succeed and make her parents proud. After almost seven years of studying, she dedicated the completion of her PhD to her beloved late father and mother. She also made special reference to both of her supervisors Professor Darrin Hodgetts and Associate Professor Siautu Alefaio-Tugia, who not only encouraged her throughout her journey but inspired her.
“Being a daughter of Tongan migrants, there was always the dream to achieve at the highest level in education because the whole rationale of leaving our loved ones and our homeland was to achieve better opportunities for our kainga (families),” Dr Havea says.
Dr Havea has been part of the Massey whānau in a variety of roles for almost 18 years. The main theme throughout her roles has been how she nurtures and cares for people. Her current role, which sits within the newly established Pacific Student Success (PSS) team, entails providing learning support for Pacific postgraduate students to ensure that they achieve their academic aspirations.
Her PhD explored violence amongst kainga (families) in Aotearoa New Zealand and how applying a faith-based approach can reduce violence and the associated negative impacts.
“The study was built on a formative evaluation that I was involved in of the first Tongan faith-based family violence programme in New Zealand.
“Developing and conducting faith-based research and initiatives to address social issues with Tongan/Pacific people has always been a personal passion. So, when this opportunity arose, I decided to take on the challenge because there is next to no literature exploring my subject area, especially within the psychology space.”
A highlight for Dr Havea was having three of her research chapters published and knowing it could be referenced in future to help inform policies and practices for reducing violence amongst Tongan families.
“This study will be utilised by academics, policy makers, practitioners, communities and other key stakeholders for generations to come!”
Another standout for Dr Havea was the experience of having frank Talanoa (Pacific ways of dialogue) with her participants and finding out their stories, desires, longing and commitment for a violence-free family life.
“This is a topic I’ve always been interested in. Our faith is part of our DNA – it’s embedded in us no matter where we are in the world.
“I wanted to dig deeper to see how we can use our faith to help us in everyday life and especially in the many issues that we struggle in. So when this opportunity was presented to me to work with my people and use Tongan faith-based principles and values, I was excited to be involved.”
Dr Havea’s study found Tongan cultural ways infused with faith-based values of mutual and sacrificial love (‘Ofa), respect (Faka’apa’apa) and humility (Angafakatōkilalo) can be effective and transformational for individuals and families experiencing violence.
Dr Havea’s hope is to see a reduction in family violence within the Tongan community residing in New Zealand in the future. She hopes the findings and the benefits of the faith-based programme will encourage the creation of more specific cultural based programmes to be created to help with social issues.
Related news
Staff celebrate their success at Manawatū graduation
Nineteen Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa staff members were among the 469 people who graduated this week at the Manawatū ceremonies.
