Source: University of Otago
Samuel Hughes dressed in his ta’ovala with his daughter.
Pacific leader and equity advocate Samuel Hughes will graduate from the University Otago after never having set foot on campus.
The founder of Nōna Te Ao Trust, former Chief Advisor at the Ministry of Education, Senior Fellow at Atlantic Fellows and proud Tongan family-man will be graduating with a Master of Indigenous Studies on Saturday.
After initially hoping to attend his graduation in person, Samuel will graduate in absentia after accepting a new position at EY as a senior manager in its Consulting Division.He began his study at Otago in 2020, after the option for distance learning became available at Te Tumu, School of Māori, Pacific & Indigenous Studies.
His thesis on the history of educational policy and Iwi-based curriculum aligned with his work at the Ministry of Education, which focused on the New Zealand Curriculum Refresh.
His research was based on the case study of Tolaga Bay Area School, Gisborne, where he was Deputy Principal for almost two years.
Samuel says being able to study areas outside of his normal field of work such as Māori land law and Māori history was also a big drawcard.
As a professional working in Gisborne, it was important to that distance learning was “already well-established”.
“My supervisor provided me with advice and guidance entirely online. The library was also awesome.
“I rang a lady who worked at the library saying ‘I need this section of this book’, and she scanned the chapters I needed and sent them to me immediately.”
He also says being able to submit everything online, “including a thesis”, was “pretty crazy”.
Samuel embarked on his master’s journey to substantiate his existing knowledge from his years of working in the field, which he says will “provide a basis to feel confident in certain spaces where academic credentials are important”.
It was his motivation to continue studying and to inspire others that ultimately resulted in his decision to obtain his master’s at Otago.
“Having a research master’s means I have the option to carry on to do my PhD.
“The other thing driving me to keep studying is because I can. Because I have the ability and the opportunity to do so.
“I came from a low socioeconomic community and I’ve been able to pursue education as a means of changing my own situation, and to inspire others to do the same.”
Samuel has spoken at international conferences about his childhood environment and “the people who were left behind”.
He says: “No one should ever get left behind. I shouldn’t have to tell the stories of the people who didn’t make it just so I can be the one who made it out. Everyone should get that opportunity. That’s what I strive for in my work.”
Samuel completed his Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Identity in 2017, looking specifically at whakapapa in regard to educational success.
He then worked at Tolaga Bay Area school as a way to put his findings to the test and recommendations into practice.
Around this time, Samuel also founded Nōna Te Ao Charitable Trust which focuses on ensuring equitable pathways for rural youth into tertiary studies and other vocations.
He started his role at the Ministry of Education in 2021, where he wrote curriculum “to help the next generation of learners”.
“My work with the Ministry was more future-focused. You won’t be able to see the fruits of that labour for 15 years.
“The trust work is face-to-face with our young people. That’s the tangible part, that’s the micro,” Samuel says.
He joined the social equity hub of Atlantic Fellows in 2021 and has since gone on to become a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Institute.
“I’m one of those people who just applies for things. If I get a no, I get a no. It’s not going to hurt me,” Samuel says.
“I was so amazed by the people who had gone before me. It’s a global fellowship programme and the vision is to bring together leaders in equity spaces across the world to solve global issues.”
Now beginning his role at EY, Samuel reflects on his time studying at Otago.
“I would recommend this to anyone who is a professional, or anyone who is in a place where a university isn’t readily available to you, to take up a distance course at Otago.”
– Kōrero by Keilah Fox
