Gloria Tuitupou: The value of education in our community

“I want to learn more about how we can bridge the gaps to create better outcomes for everyone.”

With a mother as an educator and an aunty as the school principal of Tāmaki College, it was only natural for Gloria Tuitupou to follow their footsteps in pursuit of higher education. After graduating from Tāmaki College with a dream to work in the heath sector, Gloria went on to gain a Bachelor of Science at Auckland University.

Since then, she has taken on several roles mentoring and advocating as a familiar face in Tāmaki, first as a member of Tāmaki Youth Council, a youth advocate at Tāmaki RISE, and now as a Community Practitioner at Rākau Tautoko.

“Attending college with my mum as a teacher and my aunty as the school principal was interesting. I think I was definitely more hyper aware of how I carried myself, because it would reflect on them. I did play up a little bit in class once though. I thought it was okay because it was my mum, and I thought I’d get away with it, but it didn’t end well,” she says with a laugh.

During her university studies, Gloria lived at the university hall, which was uncommon for a young Pasifika woman, but a positive experience. “It was exciting, because I had always wanted to get out and experience something different, something bigger than what I was used to. It was a good time for me, living on my own and away from my family for the first time. I was staying in the city and that was really cool in terms of independence, but also very scary for someone who grew up sheltered like me. I learnt a lot about myself during that time though, I think it was crucial for my growth.”

Having worked for years with local rangatahi, Gloria knows first-hand the real-life problems they encounter, and stresses the importance of providing safe space for all voices to be heard.

“Young people are the core of our mahi, so it’s important to be reminded why we’re in service, and who we’re serving. In previous experiences I’ve had, youth work can feel like we’re working ‘to them’, as opposed to ‘with them’, so I’m constantly trying to be active in that mindset and that practice. I think if I was a young person in high school, I would have loved to have someone relatable in the youth age bracket to talk to and not feel like I have to censor myself.”

For the future of Tāmaki, she dreams of a community that is well connected, not only relationship wise, but with services and organisations too.

“I envision a Tāmaki where young people feel a strong sense of belonging and they’re aware of all the resources that are available for them through support and collaboration. I want them to cement their sense of belonging and identity here. I think that’s important with all the regeneration happening and the new people coming to the area.”

Gloria enjoys working in Pacific communities, but at some point, she hopes to return to Tonga to implement the skills and knowledge she has accumulated through her learnings to help create better health outcomes in the Islands.

“There are so many areas that I would love to work in that are taboo in our culture, like mental health, sexual health, and reproductive health. That’s why I chose this pathway, because I love science. I want to learn more about how we can bridge the gaps to create better outcomes for everyone.”

Gloria is grateful to her my mother for instilling the value of education into her upbringing and fostering her love for community and family through humility and service.

“I’m an only child, so my mum and I have a really strong relationship. The support from my mother in every sense of the word has been so integral in my life. My aunty as well, she’s been like a second mum and always so supportive.

All this greatness stems from my grandma, I look up to her so much. In my family there are so many strong and intelligent women. My grandma is one of them, and so is my mum and I guess that’s me too.”

You can read the full edition of the Mai Tāmaki Magazine for Spring 2025 online here.