TLRI

Despite decades of international research that clearly demonstrate the advantages of Bilingual/Immersion Education, Pacific tamariki continue to have limited opportunities for learning in their heritage languages at school. The Teaching and Learning Research Initiative: Nāu i Whatu Te Kākahu, He Tāniko Tāku (TLRI) seeks to support research addressing themes of strategic importance to education in Aotearoa New Zealand that will lead to an improvement in outcomes for learners. In 2026, Vaʻatele was successful in being awarded funding for the project, Sustaining Pacific Bilingual/Immersion Education (PBIE) with Pacific tamariki, whānau, and communities. This research project is a partnership between Vaʻatele Education Consulting, AUT, and three primary schools with established Pacific Bilingual/Immersion Education (PBIE) units: Mangere East School, Papatoetoe North School, Sutton Park School. The research project seeks to understand how schools enact, sustain, and strengthen PBIE pedagogical leadership and practice, to enhance Pacific success.

Link to our study on the TLRI website: https://tlri.org.nz/research/sustaining-pacific-bilingual-immersion-education-pbie-with-pacific-tamariki-whanau-and-communities/