Cultural intelligence workshop

These workshops are offered both in-person and online and are focused on accelerating your engagement with Pacific peoples. The knowledge and experience you will gain will help you to better appreciate or reconnect with Pacific culture, language, values, beliefs, and practices and get better at communicating and working with people in your community and workplace.

Some of the content covered in the workshops includes developing and implementing your school/organisational Pasifika strategic plan and fostering and improving your understanding of Pacific perspectives to empower and engage your Pasifika staff and client base.

Register your interest now for one of the scheduled dates listed below or contact us directly on 09 968 7281 or pacificatmit@manukau.ac.nz and we’ll be in touch to discuss your needs.

Workshops are held on the following dates in 2026:

  • 26 February 2026
  • 26 March 2026
  • 30 April 2026
  • 27 May 2026
  • 25 June 2026
  • 23 July 2026
  • 27 August 2026
  • 17 September 2026
  • 29 October 2026
  • 25 November 2026

Delivery options

Face-to-face Online Customised
  • 9.30am – 3.30pm
  • Generally provided only on listed dates and at MIT’s Pasifika Community Centre – see custom options for alternative arrangements.
  • 10.30am – 2.30pm
  • Max. 5 people per session
  • *During a COVID lockdown, previously scheduled face-to-face workshops will be delivered online instead.
  • Date, time, location and delivery method (face-to-face and/or online) can be adapted to meet your needs
  • Enquire at pacificatmit@manukau.ac.nz to discuss customised options.
  • Cost: $402 per person (GST inc.), including catering.
  • Please come equipped with a notebook and a pen and two devices (e.g. mobile phone and laptop/computer).
  • Registrations close one week prior to each session. Contact us to see if last-minute changes are possible.

Language programmes

MIT is proud to be the only New Zealand tertiary provider to offer NZQA approved qualifications in Pasifika languages – these include Tongan, Samoan, Cook Islands Māori and Niuean.

Reconnect with your culture and get better at communicating with people in your whanau, community and workplace.

“Key to understanding one’s culture is learning one’s language.”

Discover how learning a language connects your work, community and family life.

“Ko e lea fakatonga koe ”elito ia hotau ‘ulungaanga fakatonga“–
“Tongan language is the fundamental feature of our Tongan culture.”

According to the 2018 census, Tongans are the second largest group at 21.5 percent of New Zealand’s Pacific population. Nearly 65 percent of Tongans in New Zealand are born and raised here.

MIT recognised the significance of this by being the only tertiary provider to offer a qualification in the Tongan language.

This qualification is for anyone who works with Tongan people or to anyone who may want to upskill in the language. You will learn skills in:

  • Speaking/ lea
  • Listening/ fanongo
  • Reading and writing/ Lau tohi moe tohi
  • Understanding cultural practices/ ‘ilo kihe ‘ulugaanga fakafonua

Find out more about learning the Tongan language.

“A leai se gagana, ua leai se aganuu. A leai se aganuu, ua po le nu’u“–
(Fanaafi, 1996) –

If there is no language, then there is no culture.??
If there is no culture, the village is in darkness.

Samoa is the biggest Pacific group in New Zealand with almost 48 percent of the Pacific population. According to the 2018 census, nearly 67 percent of Samoans in New Zealand are also born and raised here.

MIT is situated at the heart of New Zealand’s Pacific community and is the only tertiary provider to offer a qualification in the Samoan language.

This qualification is for anyone who works with Samoan people or to anyone who may want to upskill in the language. You will learn skills in:

  • Speaking/ tautalaga
  • Listening/ ffa’alogologo
  • Reading and writing/ fFaitauina ma tusitusiga
  • Understanding cultural practices/ ‘fa’amalamalamaina o tu ma aga fa’aleaganu’u

Find out more about learning the Samoan language

“Kia pupuru o vaevae, kia mokora o kaki –??
Your legs like the pupuru and your neck like the duck’s.??
Be wise, be steady and cool.??
Be strong and courageous and consider things very carefully.??
Stand firmly and be alert.”

Cook Islands is the third biggest Pacific group?in New Zealand?with over 20 percent of the Pacific?population. According to the?2018?census, almost 80 percent of Cook Islands Māori are born and raised in New Zealand.

MIT has many strong connections with the Pacific community and is the only tertiary provider to offer a qualification in the Cook Islands Māori language.

This qualification is for anyone who works with?Cook Islands Māori people or to anyone who may want to upskill in the language. You will learn skills in:

  • Speaking/ lea
  • Listening/ fanongo
  • Reading and writing/ lau tohi moe tohi
  • Understanding cultural practices/ ‘ilo kihe ‘ulungaanga fakafonua

Find out more about learning?Cook Islands Māori

“Ko ia ne kumikumi mua e pulotu, ko ia e tagata ka moua e kamataaga he lilifu –??
Those who seek first knowledge above anything else, are taking the first step towards gaining humility.”

According to the 2018 census, Niueans are nearly 10 percent of the Pacific?population in New Zealand with over 80 percent also being born and raised here.

MIT has many strong connections with the Pacific community and is the only tertiary provider to offer a qualification in the Niuean language.

This qualification is for anyone who works with people from Niue or may want to upskill in the language. You will learn skills in:

  • Speaking
  • Listening
  • Reading and writing
  • Understanding cultural practices

Find out more about learning Niuean