After losing her son and mother, and surviving a car crash, Tongan-born Tina Vao graduates with honours from Massey University.
Tina Vao, a mother of six who moved from Tonga to New Zealand in 2019, has graduated with a Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours from Massey University. Her achievement comes after enduring the loss of her 10-year-old son and her mother in 2023, followed by a serious car accident in early 2024.
“In 2023, I lost my 10-year-old son and, shortly after, my mother. Their deaths broke me. I lost the will to study and nearly gave up completely. But even in those dark moments, I remembered why I started this journey,” Vao said.
Despite these hardships, Vao credits her faith, culture, and family for helping her persevere. “It wasn’t just about receiving a degree; it was about everything I had overcome to get there,” she said.
Vao’s graduation is emblematic of the increasing success of Māori and Pacific students in higher education. Massey University reports that the Pacific learner gap has decreased from 12.8% in 2016 to 6.4% in 2023.
Looking ahead, Vao hopes to pursue postgraduate studies focusing on food safety and nutrition for vulnerable populations in the Pacific. “Perhaps even developing culturally safe food solutions, or leading education programmes in the Pacific region,” she said.
Her message to others facing adversity is clear, “I want Pasifika, especially mothers, caregivers, and those facing hardship, to know that their dreams are valid. Our voices are needed in spaces like science, food innovation, and healthcare.”
Source: RNZ
