Title: Kainga : an ancient solution for contemporary challenges of Tongan studemts' academic achievement in New Zealand tertiary education

Abstract: There are many successful Tongans in academia but in New Zealand there is a concern about the low academic achievement of Tongan students in tertiary education. This paper discusses the importance and impact of kāinga (blood/kin or social relationships) between Tongan tertiary students and their supporters; the pule‘anga (bureaucracy), their fāmili (family), siasi (church) and fonua (wider community), towards their education. These relationships between Tongan tertiary students and their supporters can either enhance or constrain their academic achievement. Tongan students are academically successful when the different contexts of kāinga in terms of tā (time) and vā (space) intersect or interact harmoniously within and between each other. Thus, kāinga is an ancient solution for contemporary challenges for Tongan students in New Zealand tertiary education.