1.
15 May 2014
To Whom It May Concern
Reference for Tugi Togiaheulu
I have great pleasure in providing a reference for Tugi Togiaheulu. I was employed as a senior
lecturer in the School of Social Sciences at the Auckland University of Technology from 2006 to
2012. I am now an associate professor and discipline leader of the Indigenous Studies program in
the Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts at the University of Wollongong in Australia.
From 2009 to 2012, Tugi Togiaheulu enrolled in a number of my courses as part of the Bachelor
of Social Science. He took my Introduction to Sociology, Introduction to New Zealand Politics
and Sociology of Popular Culture courses. In his final years in Social Science programme, I acted
as his academic adviser. I am therefore well placed to comment on Tugi’s academic performance.
Tugi is a vastly capable student who has a rare ability to communicate difficult and theoretically
dense material in an accessible and creative way. Tugi has a real talent as a creative writer and is
an original and reflective thinker. The assignments he completed for me demonstrated an
excellent grasp of the conceptual tools, skills and qualities that are associated with a graduate of
the social science programme.
In addition to his academic performance, Tugi has a number of strengths to offer an employer.
Tugi is focused and determined. He is very much a team player who responds positively to
individual goals and challenges while putting the welfare of others first. He realizes that success
can only be obtained through hard work and approaching each task with a positive attitude. His
supportive, encouraging and friendly manner has made him very popular with his fellow students
and lecturers at the Auckland University of Technology.
If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely,
Associate Professor Evan Te Ahu Poata-Smith
Discipline Leader, Indigenous Studies Unit
School of Humanities and Social Inquiry
Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts
University of Wollongong NSW 2522
Australia