Loata Tiapapa is the Learning Vaka Manager at Moana Connect, where she leads the Moana Learning Vaka. She is of Cook Islands and Samoan descent, with family connections to Tongareva, Aitutaki, Palmerston, and Tahiti. From Samoa, she hails from the villages of Nofoa’ali’i and Faleu Manono
Loata is currently completing a Doctor of Education at Auckland University of Technology. Her career has included roles in both primary and secondary education, youth work, and policy development, including time as a policy intern at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).
Her doctoral research focuses on the intergenerational sharing of knowledge and cultural practices within the Tongareva community in Aotearoa. A servant leader at heart, Loata is driven by a deep commitment to improving outcomes for Pacific communities — o le ala i le pule o le tautua (the pathway to leadership is through service).
