A new Pasifika Research and Policy Centre will be established in New Zealand as part of a new strategy launched by Massey University to improve the education of Pasifika students.
The recently appointed Pasifika director at Massey University, Dr Malakai Koloamatangi, says the main vision of the strategy, which extends to 2020, is to achieve excellence for Pasifika students, researchers and staff at Massey.
Dr Koloamatangi says the new centre which will be based at the Albany campus in Auckland, will add to the body of Pasifika knowledge and be relevant to Pasifika communties.
He says there is a need for more research that has a practical application.
"There is a lack of good policy research and advice particularly to government and policy makers when it comes to for example, such as - what is the Chinese interest in the Pacific, for example."
Dr Malakai Koloamatangi says the new Centre will be up and running in about 12 months.
