Talanoa - Scholarly Commons Home

manner reflective and sensitive to the Tongan cultural imperative. The research
literature on Tongan primary school children show no application of koloa talanoa as a
means of learning or teaching.
Talanoa in the literature
Although works on talanoa indicate it as a developing research methodology for
Tongan-based work (Otsuko, 2006; Vaioleti, 2003), the literature shows the authenticity
of talanoa. Talanoa is well positioned to be the most appropriate method to research the
Tongan migrants in New Zealand. Vaioleti argues that a cultural synthesis of the
information, stories, emotions and theorising made available by talanoa produce
relevant knowledge and possibilities for addressing Tongan issues. Talanoa allows
more mo'oni (pure, real, authentic) information to be available for Pacific research than
data derived from other research methods (Vaioleti, 2006).
Otsuko (2006) stresses that a culturally appropriate methodology makes fieldwork more
reliable and valued. Cross-cultural research must interpret the human condition in its
social, cultural and historical context in order to understand it. The use of talanoa
supports the concept of rapport found in Western social research. Burns (1990) confirms
that:
A face-to-face interaction assists in the establishment of rapport and
higher level of motivation among respondents (Burns, 1990, p. 302).
Talking things over rather than taking rigid stands; oratory and verbal negotiation have
deep traditional roots in Pacific cultures. Therefore, the way of the people of the Pacific
nations is spoken rather than written (Halapua, 2005; Pasifika Education Research
Guidelines, 2002).
Prior to the advent of the western civilization and the coming of the
missionaries, the only thing we had was talanoa. That was how history
was created. That was how we knew we were Tongan. That was how we
knew we own the land. That was how we knew our kāinga (relations).
That was how we knew our hou’eiki (chiefs). That was how we knew our
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