OTSA 'AMATAKILOA 2025

We’re raising funds to support the Otago Tongan Tertiary Students’ Association (OTSA) as we prepare to attend ‘Amatakiloa 2025 - a national four-day conference hosted by the New Zealand Tongan Tertiary students; that celebrates Tongan excellence, culture, and connection.

‘Amatakiloa is more than an event - it’s a movement. It brings together Tongan tertiary students from across Aotearoa to stand in their power, celebrate their culture, and thrive in academic spaces where we are often overlooked. Through academic workshops, leadership talanoa, cultural performance, sports, and faith-based connection, this conference creates space for Tongan youth to lead, reflect, and be unapologetically proud of who we are.

This year’s conference will be held in Ōtepoti Dunedin, and we want to ensure every OTSA member can stand alongside their peers, represent Otago, and take part in this transformative experience. Your support will help cover the costs of travel, accommodation, and participation - breaking down barriers so our students can show up and shine.

Help us get to ‘Amatakiloa. Help us carry our culture forward.

We are the Otago Tongan Tertiary Students’ Association (OTSA), a student-led collective dedicated to empowering Tongan youth in higher education.
 

Based at the University of Otago, our association provides cultural grounding, academic support, and leadership development for Tongan students navigating university life away from home.

Our team is made up of passionate students who are proud to represent Otago at ‘Amatakiloa 2025. This includes our exec committee and wider membership, who have all worked hard throughout the year to uplift each other and show up strong on the national stage. Attending ‘Amatakiloa is a chance for us to not only connect with other Tongan students from across Aotearoa, but to also grow as leaders and strengthen our voice in both academic and cultural spaces.

We’re raising funds to support our members’ full participation in ‘Amatakiloa 2025.
As a student-led association, we want to ensure that every OTSA member has equal access to this opportunity without financial stress becoming a barrier.

Here’s where your support will go:

• Uniforms: To represent Otago with pride and unity, each member will receive an association uniform pack to wear at key events throughout the conference. This consists of Pule-taha for girls, Sote and Tupenu for boys (Tongan cultural attire), Jersey and T-Shirt.
• Transport: We'll be covering travel costs to and from the conference for all members based in Otago, ensuring everyone can attend safely and on time.
• Registration Fees: Each student must pay to attend ‘Amatakiloa, which covers accommodation, food, and access to all conference events. This year the fee is $250 per person.
• Accommodation Costs (if needed): Although the conference is hosted in Dunedin, some of our members living outside the city or in different flats may still require overnight accommodation with the rest of the group to stay connected and involved.

Every dollar raised brings us closer to showing up fully, together, and ready to represent Otago with strength, humility, and pride.

‘Amatakiloa is a national conference that brings together Tongan tertiary students from across Aotearoa for four powerful days of cultural celebration, academic growth, leadership development, and community building.

Our association — the Otago Tongan Tertiary Students’ Association (OTSA) — is preparing to attend and represent Otago with strength and pride. The 2025 conference will be held right here in Ōtepoti Dunedin, and for many of our members, this will be their first time engaging in a national space that’s unapologetically Tongan and intentionally made for us.

The conference programme includes an academic day where students engage in speeches, debates, and talanoa that explore everything from navigating university systems to Indigenous knowledge and Tongan excellence. There are also cultural nights, sports tournaments, a faith-based rally, and leadership workshops designed to inspire and grow the next generation of Tongan change-makers.

We’re fundraising to make sure no student gets left behind due to cost. Our goal is to help cover travel, accommodation, and registration fees for our members so that we can all take part, contribute, and represent our region and our stories.

‘Amatakiloa isn’t just an event - it’s a space where we’re reminded that being Tongan in higher education is something to be proud of. We’re showing up for our ancestors, our families, and our future.

The Otago Tongan Students’ Association (OTSA) plays a critical role in supporting and representing Tongan tertiary students in Dunedin, a city where our community often faces underrepresentation and limited cultural resources. Many Tongan students arrive here balancing academic pressure, cultural adjustment, and the challenge of maintaining their identity away from home. OTSA provides a vital space of belonging, connection, and cultural affirmation that helps members navigate these challenges.

‘Amatakiloa 2025 is far more than just a conference. It is a national gathering that celebrates Tongan excellence, fosters leadership, and strengthens cultural pride. For OTSA members, attending ‘Amatakiloa offers invaluable opportunities to build skills, forge networks, and share experiences with peers from across the country - experiences that simply cannot be replicated locally.

Backing OTSA to attend ‘Amatakiloa means investing in the growth and empowerment of Tongan students who will become future leaders and role models within Otago and beyond. This support helps amplify Tongan voices in spaces where they have historically been marginalised, promotes cultural resilience, and creates pathways for success both academically and personally.

By supporting this project, donors are contributing to a movement that uplifts an entire community - creating lasting positive change, fostering cultural pride, and ensuring that Tongan students in Dunedin have the resources and confidence to excel and lead.