31 Dec 2007

Samoan Associate Professor recognised for research

11:12 am on 31 December 2007

Associate Professor Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop's involvement in research has been recognised in this year's New Zealand's New Year's Honours.

Tagaloatele who receives the Officer of Order of New Zealand is the inaugural director of Va'aomanu Pasifika; the Pacific and Samoan research centre at Wellington's Victoria University.

Professor Fairbairn-Dunlop, who has been involved with research and training in Pacific development issues for 30 years, is in no doubt how important research is for Pacific people.

"It really is time for our Pacific people in New Zealand do our own research and do it in a thorough way which you know is credible and recognisable by other people who are acknowledged, also our research feed into policy making that is so important if we are going to get anywhere in New Zealand."