Aoga Fa'aSamoa Resources

Research and Special Projects at A'oga Fa'a Samoa.

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A'oga Fa’a Samoa Centre-based Projects, Research & Publications.

  • 2020 Tlif inquiry  
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  • 2017 - Awarded the Teacher Led Innovative Fund by the Ministry of Education. Enabling New Zealand Samoan children and their teachers to develop understandings of different modes of learning the Samoan language through digital devices. This is a two year inquiry involving teachers, parents and the children attending the A'oga.
  • 2016
    From 2016 Prime Ministers Award in teaching and learning 2016.... more
  • 2014-2015
    From 2014 - 2015 TRLI research Young children learning through more than one language.... more
  • 2006-2009
    From 2006-2009 the A'oga Fa'a Samoa took part in a Ministry of Education action research project using ICT.... more
  • 2006
    Aoga ISBN Report .... more
  • 2005
    Further Update Report on Action Research at the A'oga Fa'a Samoa (Valerie N. Podmore with the A’oga Fa’a Samoa, 2005) .... more
  • 2004
    Research Report on Action Research at the A'oga Fa'a Samoa (Valerie N. Podmore and Airini with the A’oga Fa’a Samoa, 2005).... more
  • 2004
    Transitions within the centre and to school: Research at a Samoan-language immersion centre.
    (Valerie N. Podmore with Jan Taouma and the A'oga Fa'a Samoa, 2004).... more
  • 2004
    What helps effective transition in Early Childhood Education: Perceptions of good practice in Samoan ECE.
    (Airini, 2004).... more
  • 2003
    Innovation and Collaborative Research Development in an Early Childhood Centre (Podmore, et al. 2003)... more
  • 2003
    A Samoan-Language Immersion Centre's Journey Into Action Research? (Podmore, et al. 2003)... more
  • 2003
    ICT Research Paper – Bookmaking (Moananu, M. 2002)... more
  • 2003
    Friendships (Tapusoa, et al)...more
  • 2003
    Quality Centre Registration Review (NZAARE/NZCA)... more
  • 2001
    Computer Network for Children (Auck University Donation)... more
  • 1999
    Value of Culture and Language (Taouma, J. 1999)...more
  • 1997
    Achievement of Quality Centre Registration (NZAARE/NZCA)... more
  • 1992
    Value of Culture & Language (Taouma, J. 1992)....more
  • Ongoing Mentor of Other Pacific ECE Centres....more

Chapter 5 The A'oga Fa'a Samoa: A Samoan-immersion centre (Eneleata Tapusoa, Valerie N. Podmore, Patisepa Tuafuti, Jan Taouma and May Crichton, 2014-2015)

TRLI research Young children learning through more than one language - Teachers voyaging in plurilgual seas.

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Further Update Report on Action Research at the A'oga Fa'a Samoa (Valerie N. Podmore with the A’oga Fa’a Samoa, 2005)

Progress Report for the Ministry of Education
31 March 2005. Prepared for the Ministry of Education under contract between the Ministry and Victoria Link Ltd.

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Research Report on Action Research at the A'oga Fa'a Samoa (Valerie N. Podmore and Airini with the A’oga Fa’a Samoa, 2004)

Progress Report for the Ministry of Education
November 2004. Prepared for the Ministry of Education under contract between the Ministry and Victoria Link Ltd.

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Transitions Within the Centre & to School: Research at a Samoan-language Immersion Centre
(Valerie N. Podmore with Jan Taouma and the A'oga Fa'a Samoa, 2004)

A report on a research project at A'oga Fa'a Samoa designed to investigate the relationship between learning and language continuity as children and educators make transitions from a Pasifika immersion centre to beginning school. An article published in Early Childhood Folio 8, 2004. Also published by Ministry Of Education

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What helps effective transition in Early Childhood Education: Perceptions of good practice in Samoan ECE
(Airini, 2004)

A research paper prepared for the A’oga Fa’a Samoa, Auckland, and the University of Victoria at Wellington, New Zealand. This paper is about adult perceptions of what helps children through transition phases within a Samoa immersion ECE setting, and from that setting into primary school. In short, this is about times of change in ECE and what helps make them happen in ways beneficial to a child’s holistic development.

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Innovation and Collaborative Research Development in an Early Childhood Centre
(Taouma, J., Wendt-Samu, T., Podmore, V., Tapusoa, E., Moananu, M. 2003)

Paper 1 in the Symposium: Research Development and Implementation in New Zealand's Pacific “Early Childhood Centre of Innovation” presented at the joint NZARE-AARE Conference, Auckland, 29 November–3 December 2003. The ECE centres of innovation policy framework specifies that "Centre of Innovation-researcher partnerships" are valued. This paper summarises the development of an early childhood centre of innovation, and describes the aiga concept and the research involvement of a community/parent reference group. There is an overview of the philosophy of the centre, with specific reference to culture and language. Related background research literature is outlined, with a focus on children's transitions within and from Pacific early childhood centres.

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A Samoan-Language Immersion Centre's Journey Into Action Research?
(Podmore, V., Wendt-Samu, T., Taouma, J. 2003)

Paper 2 in the Symposium: Research Development and Implementation in New Zealand's Pacific “Early Childhood Centre of Innovation”, presented at the joint NZARE-AARE Conference, Auckland, 29 November–3 December 2003. This collaborative paper outlines the implementation of participant research within an "early childhood centre of innovation". The research is designed to examine the relationship between learning and language continuity as children and educators at a centre make transitions from the point of entry through to beginning school. Findings from the first phase of the research, and the development of the first spiral of an action research cycle, are outlined. This includes reference to critical incidents analyses. Research processes are discussed, including the implementation of the action research design. The research approaches chosen for the study are appraised for cultural appropriateness.

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ICT Research Paper Malo Moananu.
(Moananu, M. 2003)

A research carried out with a group of children at the A’oga Fa’a Samoa looking at making a book using ICT.

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Friendships.
(Tapusoa, E., Mane, Epenesa, Moananu, M., Tuai,T., Luatua, A., Lucy, Helen, Sinei, Milo, 2003)

Making Teachers Learning Visible – an action research paper addressing the question ‘ Why do some children have more friends than others?’

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2002 Quality Registration Review.

In July 2002 the A’oga went through the process of self-review looking at the aspect of quality care and education for children under two. This was a new area for review, as that part of the A’oga had not been established in the first review. This review was based on the Quality Journey, an assessment journal developed by the Ministry of Education and involved parent and staff surveys. The A’oga Fa’a Samoa achieved all the assessment indicators and was once again awarded the quality registration. This registration has held us in good regard with the ERO office and also the MOE when applying to become a centre of innovation.


2001 Computer Network for Children.
(University of Auckland Donation)

Six computers were donated to the Aoga Fa’a Samoa by the University of Auckland in February 2001. The donation was organised by Walter Fraser, Secretary of the Management Committee at that time. Walter was the registrar of the Art department and organised the donation and also a network person to set them up for the children. Professor Doug Sutton attended a special morning tea at the A’oga Fa’a Samoa where the children performed for him and the staff and management were able to thank him.


The Value of Culture and Language.
(Taouma, J. 1999)

This paper discusses the Aoga Fa’a Samoa’s philosphcal base and holistic approach to Early Childhood Education within the context of language immersion and bilingualism.

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1997 Achievement of Quality Registration.

In 1997 Te Tari Puna Ora O Aotearoa / NZCA initiated a register for centres to under go an assessment and review to be put on this register of achieving quality standards in Early childhood education and care. This was developed from a need expressed by member centres as wanting something more than just an ERO review to show key aspects of quality especially based on staff child interactions. The A’oga Fa’a Samoa was one of six centres to undergo the process of review in 1997 and was awarded the certificate of Quality in Wellington at a special ceremony on the 23/10/1997.


Ministry of Education Funded Contracts.

  • 2003 – 2006
    Centres Of Innovation... more
  • 2003 – 2004
    Strengthening Pacific Early Childhood Education Fono administration... more
  • 2002
    Radio Samoa Contract... more

Centre of Innovation (COI) Contract with the Ministry of Education (Jun 2003 to Jun 2006)

Six centres were chosen to be “Centres of Innovation’ for a period of three years as a part of the Strategic Plan developed by the Labour Government. These centres were to undertake research in their centres on areas as outlined in their applications. Research associates were chosen to work alongside centres on the action research. The A’oga Fa’a Samoa put in an application and were short listed, they then did a second application and were chosen on the innovations of being a quality Pasifika centre, part of a community, and ICT use for learning with children. Follow this link to read more about A'oga Fa'a Samoa's COI involvement, including papers published under the COI contract


SPECE Contract with the Ministry of Education. (Jul 2002 - Apr 2004)

Contract with the Ministry of Education for the Strengthening Pacific Early Childhood Education Fonos held in Auckland. The A’oga Fa’a Samoa has the responsibility to attend to all of the adminstration and organistion requirements to ensure that the Fono can be delivered to all the invited Licensed Pasifika centres in the upper North Island. It is the purpose of these Fono to give in depth support and advice to Licensed Pasifika centres to help in the delivering of quality practices through management, administration and curriculum workshops and Ministry information.


Radio Samoa Series: Contract with the Ministry of Education (2002).

A contract with the Ministry of Education to deliver 20 – 25 minute segments on Radio Samoa on a weekly basis. The purpose was to provide information to the Samoan Pasifika early childhood community in Auckland to help improve the quality of Pasifika ECE services by providing best practices information. This was done by discussing best practice in governance, management, administration, and financial aspects of running a ECE Samoan service. Both management, parents and staff contributed to the segments. Staff also talked about teacher training and curriculum delivery.


Aoga ISBN Report 2006.

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ICT Research Report 2009.

The aim of the ICT research at the A'oga Fa'a Samoa was to investigate how we could build knowledge and resources at the centre so that both the staff and the children would be able to develop and build on these new initiatives. A related intention was to develop learning resources using Samoan language for teachers, children and parents to use. The ICT project focused on the following research question; “How can teachers at the A'oga Fa'a Samoa support children's Samoan
language, interests and learning through ICT?”

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