Vagahau Niue Education Academy launches in Tāmaki Makaurau

An education initiative is being led by an Auckland-based youth group set on helping Tagata Niue in Aotearoa thrive.

A group of 12 young people from the Fineone Hakupu Atua Youth Three Star Nation group opened the Vagahau Niue Education Academy at the weekend at the famed Hakupu Community Centre in Grey Lynn.

The upstairs floor has been sectioned off for the education hub with each room being dedicated to different disciplines.

Continuing on the legacy of cultural resilience, the Three Star Nation collective spoke on PMN Niue about how they envision the academy to be a movement towards longevity of Niue culture, language, and practices.

One of the operative leaders Eunique Cabrini Ikiua says the centre serves as the spiritual home for their community and celebrates a new beginning for Niuean youth.

“Students are able to sit Vagahau Niue as an actual subject, so they can get credits for that.

"We’ve got a wellbeing room, we’ve got a creative studio for our design people to think bigger. There might be a Niue comic book or a Marvel collaboration.

“Our mission is very clear, we want to reconnect, inspire, and empower Hakupu youth and Niuean youth to thrive as Tagata Niue in New Zealand.”

The Hakupu homestead stands at 6 Ariki Street, Grey Lynn and was one of four Pacific heritage buildings featured in season 2 of the Central Auckland docu-series Still Here.

Watch the full interview with members from the Fineone Hakupu Atua Youth Three Star Nation group on PMN Niue below.

From left to right - Jenasis Mesepa Havilitama, Jessica Bourke-Jackson, Jaden Ikitule, Kasian Liuvaie Paea, Eunique Cabrini Ikiua, Vaine Viviani, Lexyan Kulatea Ryan