Video transcript
[Music plays]
[Camera pans on computer monitors]
Kia orana, my name is Jasmine Hewitt, and I'm from Aitutaki Cook Islands.
I went to Araura College in the Cook Islands and the job that I do is called a guru.
[Screen says Why do you love your job?]
I love this job because I get to do things that I enjoy doing. Being a guru is, like, a customer service role,
and the company that I work for is Shopify.
And that's pretty much creating websites online and using digital technology to sell products.
[Screen says What unique skills do Pasifika people bring to this career path?]
So Pacifica people are very welcoming and warm, and, they're empathetic.
So whatever challenges that they may come across, they don't just stress about things. They actually find ways how they can overcome these challenges.
[Screen says What subjects in school are a good pathway into this career]
Alright. For this role, definately taking the mainstream subjects like English, Maths, Science, Social science are very helpful.
And with Maths, Maths was one of my favorite subjects at school, and it helped me to be able to learn about logic and alternative ways how to solve a solution.
These subjects, these mainstream subjects can be a little bit hard to to learn. You don't need to know the answer to any subject, you just need to know that there is a way that you can research and find those answers.
And I encourage you not be afraid to dream big, and it's never too late to start.
And always around yourself with positive friends and positive people.
Yeah, so, ka kite.
Jasmin George Hewett, Computer Programmer video (01:45 mins)
"Don't be afraid to dream big and be creative with what you dream about."
Programmer Jasmin is a digital tech guru from the Cook Islands.
In this video, she talks about why she loves her work, and the unique skills Pasifika people can bring to tech.
Video transcript
[Music plays]
[Camera pans on tech equipment]
Kia ora whanau, my name is Keu Iorangi. I'm a tech activator with RSQ, and I used to go to Clover Park Middle School, which is now known as Kia Aroha College.
[Screen says Why do you love your job?]
I'm actually a business owner running my own business, so that's really, really cool. I actually really love technology, and I'm super passionate about making stuff with technology.
[What unique skills do Pasifika people bring to this career path?]
So what we bring to the table is huge. If we think about it at the heart of sort of who we are as Pacific people, we're actually innovators of so many different technologies in the past. So, you know, when we go to create and make just knowing that being innovative is in our blood, I think it'll really help us move forward in the future and create some really, really cool stuff.
[Screen says What subjects in school are a good pathway into this career]
I think some of the things that will help us in school is super simple.
It's Maths, man. I think Maths was super handy because, like, I used to hate Maths, to be honest, I used to hate it hate it hate it.
But as I got older, I began to understand that Maths is actually helping me with my problem solving.
And being a maker and being able to make stuff, you need to be a really great problem solver. So just learning a bit more on Maths, I think, will really, really help you.
I think if you're looking to get into the STEM space, the technology space, the science space, or any of the above, I think you should really, really go for it.
And we have so much to bring to the table, making, being innovative that's in our blood.
And I think within this new day and age, even though we're not necessarily making what we used to create way, way, way, back it'll really continue to help develop and look after our cultures moving forward into the future.
So, kia kaha whānau.
Keu Lorangi, Tech Activator video (01:39 mins)
"Pacific people have been innovators since way back in the day."
As a self-employed tech activator, Keu makes things with technology.
In this video, he tells us what subjects future tech activators should study, and why Pasifika people are natural innovators.
Video transcript
[Music plays]
Kia ora koutou, fakaalofa lahi atu, my name is Rio Hunuki-Hemopo. I went to Taumaranui high school, and now I am the cofounder of Koi Digital Ltd.
[Screen says Why do you love your job?]
I love my job because it allows me to get into a whole bunch of areas of things that I used to do when I was a kid. Like gaming, and drawing and all of these other funny things, like, it allows me to kind of express myself, I guess, in a lot of ways.
[Screen says What unique skills do Pasifika people bring to this career path?]
So the opportunity that exists for Pasifika and Māori people who are in gaming and the digital space is Māori and Pasifika stories and our lens and work is unique.
And it's got to be heard and got to be put out there.
So, yeah, that's why you guys have gotta come out and help me. [Laughs]
And help everyone else to kind of learn about how awesome this part of the world is.
[Screen says What subjects in school are good pathways into this career?]
If you combine a happy place for them, you know, for STEM subjects, then you're really gonna set yourself up for opportunities when you leave school, or to go into higher studies.
So, yeah, I wish I'd kind of been encouraged to do that when I went to school, you know, Māori and Pasifika people were kind of factory workers and doing trades and stuff, which they're also good at, but they have so much more potential.
So, I'd love to see you guys doing things in the digital space.
Yeah and showing the world.
Rio Hunuki-Hemopo, Game Designer video (01:32 mins)
"I love bringing my culture and history into the world of game design."
Game designer Rio works with video games every day.
In this video, he discusses opportunities for Māori and Pasifika people in the digital space, and the importance of STEM subjects.
Video transcript
[Music plays]
Talofa lava, my name is Ali Cowley, and I'm Samoan. I went to Mangere College in South Auckland and I work at Media Design School.
[Screen says Why do you love your job?]
I love my job because I get to be creative and share my own experience in the animation, illustration film and TV industry.
Yep, and to see who’s the next up and coming star in that area.
[Screen says What unique skills do Pasifika people bring to this career path?]
Pasifika people are needed in this job because it’s a growing industry and we are really unique storytellers, so we've got that eye for detail and we’re really good at sharing our story skills.
[Screen says What subjects in school are a good pathway into this career]
So good pathway for anyone who wants to get into the film and TV industry is having a good understanding for a story, like, English, maths, good engineering.
I work in a games department so you know, coding all those kinds of things really help.
I make apps and I make things like scrollable comment in the backend, and make them and animation have unity, so it’s really important to understand those basic skills to get you into the industry.
So, just a few words of encouragement for you guys, you know, if I had known to like, stayed more in science, maths and engineering it would have been helpful to me now.
Although, now I'm actually looking into the areas that I'm really interested in to do with my subject.
So, yeah, just encouraging you to really just study those fields there and learn how to do really cool stuff.
Ali Cowley, Computer Animator video (01:47 mins)
"STEM subjects help you create cool worlds with your artistic skills."
Ali is a Samoan computer animator. His work is part tech and part creative.
In this video, Ali tells us what skills Pasifika people bring to animation, and the skills future animators need.