Tauhi vā : the hope in indigenous thought for New Zealand born Tongans : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Sociology, Massey University, Manawatu, New Zealand

Abstract

This thesis explores how tauhi va, one of the four fundamental pillars of Tongan culture, is enacted and applied in Aotearoa New Zealand from the cohort of New Zealand born Tongans. When translated, ‘tauhi’ means to nurture or look after, and ‘va’ translates to space. Thus, to use tauhi va in everyday contexts is to tend to the sacred and necessary space between relationships. Tauhi va has proven to transcend generations, climates, and changing circumstances. Within Aotearoa New Zealand, tauhi va is an instrument still being implemented among Tongan communities across the country; an instrument that has been translated from the innately collectivist culture of the Kingdom of Tonga, to Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand born Tongans find themselves in a unique position of being exposed to two cultural spheres – one that was given to them by birth-right, and the other passed on from their parents. The purpose of this research was to explore the ways in which tauhi va is being implemented by New Zealand born Tongans, in their distinctive experience of negotiating the phenomenon of dual culture. To explore this notion, five New Zealand born Tongans aged twenty five to thirty five engaged in one-on-one interviews – all of which were underpinned by talanoa as the main form of methodology. These talanoa sessions centred on key themes such as identity, being Tongan in a non-Tongan society, personal experiences with tauhi va, and many more. The findings of this study have invaluable implications not only for New Zealand born Tongans as a cohort, but on how Indigenous thought has the ability to blossom in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand society.