21/08/2026
🌺 Student Highlight: Our Very Own Lagi Talalupe 🌺
From Moamoa, Samoa, to the University of Waikato, Lagi Talalupe has been named the first Samoan recipient of Tower’s Climate Change Scholarship while pursuing her Bachelor of Climate Change.
Driven by faith, family, community, and a passion for making a difference, Lagi hopes to return to Samoa after her studies and contribute to climate-informed decision-making and education for future generations.
"E lele le toloa ae ma'au lava i le vai" — the bird may fly far away, but it will always return to the water. This Samoan proverb beautifully reflects Lagi's commitment to using her knowledge and skills to serve her home and people.
Check out Lagi's inspiring story and learn more about her journey, aspirations, and the community that continues to support her along the way. 🌴
Media Release:
𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐢 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐧𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩
𝐸 𝑙𝑒𝑙𝑒 𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑎 𝑎𝑒 𝑚𝑎'𝑎𝑢 𝑙𝑎𝑣𝑎 𝑖 𝑙𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑖, 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝐿𝑎𝑔𝑖 𝑇𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑝𝑒, 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑆𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑎 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑠.
19-year-old Lagi Talalupe from Moamoa has been named the first Samoan recipient of Tower’s Climate Change Scholarship.
Lagi says there are two things that have helped her as she makes her way through her Bachelor of Climate Change at the University of Waikato. One is her Christian faith and the community that has supported her throughout her journey, and the other is the Tower Climate Change Scholarship.
Tower has supported the University of Waikato’s Bachelor of Climate Change since 2021, with three $5,000 NZD scholarships available each year to support students studying the degree.
Tower’s Country Manager Samoa Zach Suisala said he was delighted to learn of Lagi’s recognition and offered his warm congratulations to her and her family. “What stands out to me
isn’t just Lagi’s academic achievement, but her passion, purpose and determination to make a difference.”
“As a Pacific insurer, we see the impact climate change is having on our island communities and we’re committed to supporting climate adaptation and resilience. By backing the University of Waikato’s climate programme, we’re helping grow the next generation of leaders needed to tackle this challenge.”
Lagi grew up in Samoa and has only been in New Zealand for 18 months for her study. It’s been a bit of a culture shock to adjust from the traditional style of living in Samoa.
“In Samoa, the availability of resources and facilities to address climate issues affecting Pacific nations is limited. This often means that other communities and sectors are addressed first, based on the level of impact, disregarding other issues that also need attention.
“There's a Samoan proverb that says, E lele le toloa ae ma'au lava i le vai, which translates to, the bird may fly far away, but it will always return to the water. The proverb reminds us that no matter how far we travel, we remain connected to our home, our people, and our identity.
"Growing up in Samoa, I was always surrounded by green spaces. It may sound cliché, but I fell in love with the beauty of nature: the cycles, the processes, and the way everything is interconnected.
Lagi had always dreamt of becoming a teacher but decided to combine her passion for the environment with her desire to educate the next generation about climate change.
The scholarship has been one of many blessings, Lagi says. “In all honesty, I did not expect that I would get it, so reading that email took me by surprise. It was such a rollercoaster of emotions. It really serves as a testament to my studies and the sleepless nights I’ve spent working on assignments. I’ve had to be disciplined in a lot of spheres in my life and make sacrifices to be able to invest in this degree."
“It’s a huge source of motivation to have something like the scholarship that serves as support and recognition of my work."
Once Lagi completes her Bachelor of Climate Change, she plans to go back to Samoa and put everything she has learned into practice.
“I would like to work in government spaces, to contribute and help make science-informed decisions, especially in sectors where scientific knowledge is not integrated or often overlooked.
“It’s good to see decisions made from all perspectives and also pick up things that haven’t been thought of. Within the education sector, I would like to strengthen the education curriculum to
integrate more hands-on learning, mainly focusing on the root causes of climate change, rather than just resilience and sustainability practices.”
Lagi says the support she has received from her community in Hamilton, where the University of Waikato is located, and back home in Samoa has carried her throughout her journey.
“There have been times when giving up felt like an option, because the stress felt overwhelming. But I am so thankful for the constant check-ins from my parents. Their constant prayers are one of the main reasons I am still pursuing and accomplishing my dream.”
A strong friend group has also helped as a second family here in New Zealand. “Friends are one of the most uplifting communities you could ever find, and I am so blessed to have found the right community to walk with. They are there to fill in the gaps of families physically and remind me why I am here in the first place. They truly are God sent.”
Lagi says above all, her faith is the most important contributing factor to her success. “Without the Lord in everything that I do, everything is inadequate. You could work to sweat all day, but in
all truthfulness, if the Lord is not in the centre of those plans, it is meaningless.”
Ends.
