Southland Pasifika students will have the opportunity to check out tertiary study options when the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) hosts its Pasifika Open Night on 15th June.

The evening, in collaboration with the Pacific Island Advisory & Charitable Trust (PIACT), will present an array of tertiary subjects to help secondary school-level Pacific Island students explore career possibilities for their future.

It would also cater for people already be in the workforce who were looking to retraining for a new career path.

SIT Pasifika Liaison, Sam Sala expected up to seven Pacific Island cultures to be represented, including elders, at the event.

The open night’s main purpose is to show students the choices available at SIT, to encourage them to think outside typical options, and consider a broader range of qualifications, Sala said.

It was is also designed to reconnect the community.

“Pacific Island culture is all about family and that doesn’t necessarily mean immediate family and relatives, it can mean your people and your community,” Sala said.

With a sizeable Pacific Island community in Invercargill, he said it was really important for them to be together, to talk to each other and support and encourage one another.

“The open night allows the coming together of our community, which is an integral part of Pasifika culture.”

On the night, cultural groups from Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and the Cook Islands will perform, with light refreshments and traditional food available.

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