Pacific cadetship paves new career pathways for young people in South Auckland

Since 2018, John Kumitau, a retired probation officer and community leader, has worked closely with Pacific youth in South Auckland.

As the founder of the Pacific Cadetship Career Pathways Programme, Kumitau helps Year 12 and 13 Pasifika students gain work experience during the school holidays in a range of fields.

Through the cadetship programme, he aims to provide students with meaningful insights, build their confidence, and guide them in their career interests.

Kumitau collaborates with numerous agency partners that offer on-the-job training and experience for cadets.

“Most of them are government organisations, police, the defence services, the air force, Auckland Council, and there are some other providers, like NGOs, non-profit organisations, who take[s] some of the students,” he says.

Soana Havea Tutoe, a Year 13 student and cadet of Kumitau’s programme, told PMN Tonga’s John Pulu that the programme expands the career horizons of school leavers and encourages them to enter fields where they can support Pasifika communities.

Tutoe, who completed a probation officer cadetship, has a better understanding of the importance of community and how it shapes outcomes.

She emphasised the negative impacts of intergenerational poverty on the incarceration rates of Pasifika people.

“We see one of the big aspects that really affects why people are the way they are and make people the way they are is [inter]generational poverty.”

Kimora Fuimaono, who also completed the probation officer cadetship, echoed Tutoe’s sentiments, saying it is important to have Pasifika representation in these roles to reflect the diverse circumstances and backgrounds that influence life outcomes.

“We would like people who relate to our upbringing so they can know the difficulties that we went through, even for the people who are in prison,” Fuimaono says.

Kumitau has been running this programme across high schools in South Auckland, and despite being retired, he plans to continue the initiative, recognising the ongoing need to support Pasifika students.

“I will continue running the project and hope there are other people to support and continue it when my time comes to take it away,” he says.

For Tutoe and Fuimaono, their experiences in the cadetship have positively influenced their future tertiary and career aspirations.

“It made me more confident in trying to pursue a career in the legal field in the future,” Tutoe says.

Pacific Cadetship Career Pathways Programme cadets Kimora Fuimaono, left, and Soana Havea Tutoe. Photo/PMN Tonga.

Originally interested in studying psychology, Fuimaono says the cadetship has empowered them to broaden their knowledge and deepen their understanding, embracing a more open-minded approach to research.

“I wanted to do psychology, and then, coming out of the workshop, he opened my eyes.

Now, I’m open-minded to researching and doing more than just what I wanted to study.”

The long-term goal of this programme is to help young Pasifika individuals enter fields that provide stability and prosperity, thereby breaking the cycle of intergenerational hardship.

“The long-term goal of the project [is] get them into [a] career, introduce them into this career and become preventionists.”

Kumitau has expressed his gratitude to the cadetship programme’s community partners and sponsors who have contributed to its ongoing support for Pasifika school leavers.

“I’d just like to acknowledge supporters, the parents, the school coordinators, and also the financial support from funding agencies, Founders North, the Lottery and the Māngere Local Board.”

As Kumitau strives to continue this invaluable service for Pasifika students in South Auckland, he actively seeks ongoing partnerships and sponsors to fund this community-based programme.

Parents, organisers, and prospective sponsors interested in the Pacific Cadetship Career Pathways Programme are encouraged to contact Kumitau at 021 025 91418.