Toulanganga : a Tongan model for community engagement and social enterprise

Abstract

This thesis, Toulanganga: A Tongan model for community engagement and social enterprise, investigates a Tongan model of tapa-making and a process of Toulanganga which it is argued, could be viewed as a metaphor for the community development of a New Zealand-based Pacific social enterprise. This research was carried out for the multicultural members of the Multi – Educational Support and Services Trust (MESST) who shared common goals within their community development work. The research took place in Auckland, Aotearoa / New Zealand where there is a significant Polynesian population.

The findings of the research suggest that the Toulanganga model has the potential to make significant contributions to enhance the sustainability of Pacific not for profit services in Aotearoa / New Zealand. The Toulanganga model also has the potential to attract community collaboration and contribute to social connectedness for community engagement. The Toulanganga model is a Tongan model for embedding educational and social enterprise opportunities for Pacific people’s initiatives in New Zealand.