It began with a simple but urgent conversation.
Teachers at Sir Edmond Hillary Collegiate were deeply concerned about a group of rangatahi who were disengaged from learning – young people navigating disconnection, behavioural challenges, and a sense that the system wasn’t working for them. What they didn’t need was another programme to “fix” them. They needed a new way of seeing, connecting, and believing in themselves.
From that conversation, LALAGA was born – a powerful concept grounded in Pacific knowledge. Lalaga means “to weave” – weaving together people, stories, culture, and futures. It reflects the idea that strong communities and strong identities are created through connection: strand by strand, relationship by relationship.
As the Samoan proverb reminds us:
“E fofo e le alamea le alamea”
The remedy for the crown-of-thorns starfish is the starfish itself.
This phrase is deeply rooted in the observation of nature and carries a profound metaphorical meaning. Culturally, the proverb signifies that the solutions to a community’s challenges lie within that same community. It teaches resilience, self-reliance, and the idea that the people affected by an issue already possess the wisdom, resources, and heart required to heal and resolve it – a belief that sits at the heart of LALAGA.
Reconnecting identity, unlocking potential
Listening, learning, and looking ahead. LAGAGA empowers rangatahi through inspiration, knowledge, and connection.
Set in Ōtara, where many rangatahi grow up surrounded by negative narratives about their community. LALAGA intentionally creates a different story – one grounded in strength, belonging and possibility.
Delivered by a collective of inspiring young Pasifika leaders and creatives, the programme brings together students from Sir Edmund Hilary Collegiate and Tangaroa College for a powerful week-long wānanga. Through spoken words, art, dance, storytelling, and shared experiences, rangatahi explore who they are, where they come from, and what they can become.
Before LALAGA, many students expressed shame about where they lived. By the end, they spoke of pride, confidence, and hope – and a desire to give back to their community.
From disengaged to leaders
The transformation has been profound.
More than half of the participating students have gone on to become leaders and ambassadors within their schools – despite being in Years 11 and 12. What began as a response to disengagement has grown into a powerful leadership pipeline. Students who once felt disconnected are now:
- Leading environmental and waste minimisation initiatives
- Planning to restore local waterways
- Volunteering their own time to create community murals
- Stepping forward into new learning opportunities and pathways
This is the heart of Enviroschools in action: building confident, capable young people who care for their people and their place.
This young man was a past student at SEHC, now completing his masters in fine arts in UA as a result of this programme.
Building bridges between schools and communities
LALAGA has also transformed relationships beyond the individual. At the start, students from Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate and Tangaroa College were hesitant, even fearful, of connecting with each other. Through the weaving of shared experiences, laughter, creativity, and vulnerability, those barriers have dissolved.
Now, both schools host the programme, and teachers speak of deepened respect, collaboration, and shared purpose.
This growing connection is already rippling outward:
- Tangaroa College students have planted over 1,000 native plants
- New environmental initiatives are emerging, including a carbon cycle bin installation
- There is a strong momentum toward becoming an Enviroschool
Environmental action is no longer separate – it is a natural expression of belonging, pride, and leadership.
People at the centre of environmental change
LALAGA reminds us of something essential: environmental outcomes start with people.
Communities cannot sustain gardens, restore waterways, or lead climate action if they are disconnected or struggling to belong. By strengthening identity, relationships, and self-belief, LALAGA builds the foundations for long-term resilience and kaitiakitanga.
As one student shared:
“We celebrated small wins, shared jokes, and built a sense of belonging that carried through each day of the week. Through games, creative collaboration, and storytelling, LALAGA become more than a series of sessions. It became a shared journey where everyone contributed.”
A model of what’s possible
LALAGA is more than a programme – it is a living expression of its name: a weaving of people, culture, and purpose into something stronger together than apart.
Guided by leaders like Atelaite Mapa and a collective of passionate Pasifika creatives, it shows what can happen when rangatahi are trusted, seen, and supported to lead.
From a single conversation has grown a powerful example of what Enviroschools stands for: empowered young people, connected communities, and thriving environments.
And this is only the beginning – with plans to expand, LALAGA will continue weaving stronger futures for many more rangatahi to come.
Whanaungatanga in action. LAGAGA creates spaces where rangatahi can connect, share, and grow together.
Click here to watch some highlights and learn more about the LAGAGA kaupapa.
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