The project forms part of Fa'amalosi: Redefining Political Engagement for Pacific Youth in Aotearoa, a four-year research programme funded by the Royal Society Te Apārangi, exploring how Pacific young people understand, experience and enact politics in New Zealand. This PhD will investigate how Pacific young people in Aotearoa learn about politics and develop understandings of political participation. It will explore the formal and informal contexts in which political learning takes place, including schools, family, community, peers, digital spaces and experiences of political and civic participation.
The research
You will develop a doctoral research project within this area in collaboration with the supervisory team. Potential areas of investigation include the roles of families, schools and community in shaping learning about politics and political engagement, development of political confidence and efficacy for youth, and the role of civics and citizenship education in Aotearoa for Pacific youth.
You will work alongside the Fa'amalosi research team and have opportunities to contribute to a developing programme of research involving Pacific young people, educators, community organisations and political and civic institutions. There will be opportunities for collaboration on research outputs, including publications and presentations arising from the wider research programme.
Supervisors
Primary Supervisor: Dr Helena Cook
Does the project come with funding
Fees + levy + scholarship of 35kNZD per year
Funding duration: Three years
Final date for receiving applications
30 September 2026
How to apply
Apply by email to primary supervisor Helena.cook@canterbury.ac.nz with CV and cover letter by 30th September 2026.
If you would like to learn more about the project, I am happy to chat over email, phone or coffee.
Keywords
Pacific; youth; political participation; civic education; citizenship education; youth engagement; political agency; political efficacy; Pacific methodologies; elections; civic participation
