Melania Luka-Lui
Role at Te Kupenga: Pasifika Engagement Liaison & Business Support, Wellington
Melania is part of the Pasifika team for Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College and is based at the national office.
In her role as Pasifika Student & Community Engagement, Melania will be working with Pasifika students and teachers studying with Te Kupenga – Catholic Theological College . Fluent in English and Samoan and familiar with many of the Pasifika languages, cultures and protocols, Melania provides support to students and is active in promoting qualifications within various Pasifika communities. Building relationships with the Pasifika communities with other tertiary institutes and PTE sectors networks (Association of Pasifika Staff in Tertiary Education (A.P.S.T.E), Tertiary Education Commission (T.E.C), parishes, chaplaincies and schools. Melania advises an awareness of practising and exercising cultural competency within the institute’s work environment, with students, lecturers, management and staff and helped establish the Te Kupenga Pasifika Advisory Council – Pasifika academics and graduates of TCI. She works and offers support to the Te Kupenga registrar with enrolments and student contact, support to the Te Kupenga lecturers. She also assists NCRS with Walk by Faith, Understanding Sexuality and Faith Alive.
Melania is a graduate of TCI, CFLE and Walk by Faith, small business management with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, has studied Te Reo Maori and is currently studying. As Samoan Chaplaincy Youth co-ordinator and group leader for WYD between 2005-2013, she has travelled attending World Youth Day in Germany, Australia, Spain, Brazil, Italy, France and Samoa. Working as a registrar at WYD Madrid 2011 and led a group of 100 Wellington Samoan Catholic youth to Animation in Catechesis and performing at various Youth events around Sydney and at Randwick for final mass with Pope Benedict XVI. Melania is the secretary of the Samoan community of the Catholic Parish of Wellington South (CPWS) and a council member. An active member of the WYD International community, the ADW Samoan Chaplaincy and the Wellington Pasifika Tertiary community.
