Continuing the legacy of an inspirational lecturer and colleague

A new scholarship will be established in the memory of Learning Development Lecturer, Lance Laulala, who passed away on Friday 4 July 2025.

“As agreed with his wife Marie, and in recognition of Lance and his outstanding 22 years of service to our students, we will use the koha donation from staff to establish a Scholarship in his honour that will be targeted to current students doing maths subjects,” said Student Success Director, Annette Pitovao.

She confirmed that the scholarship will be similar to one that was set up in the memory of the late Anna Smith for nursing students of Pacific heritage.

“We will set up the terms and conditions to match and aim for a Semester Two launch,” Ms Pitovao says.

Lance’s twenty-two years of service to Unitec and over four decades as an educator, was honoured at his funeral service held on Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae on Tuesday.

Ngākau Mahaki was overflowing with many of Lance’s colleagues, as well as current and former students. The immense display of love and support they showed on his final journey was a testament to the impact and influence he had on their lives, and many others not present.

A large contingent of Lance’s aiga (family), friends and former colleagues, some of whom had flown in from overseas, accompanied his body into our wharenui. Their tributes, stories and reflections allowed us to learn more about the man whose impact extended far beyond Unitec.

Our manuhiri (visitors) were given a pōwhiri welcome by the Marae team who coordinated the service, supported by Pae Arahi Hare Paniora and Matua Vince Hape. Kaihautu Papa Hohepa Renata, Rev. Talia Tapaleao and Pastor Stephen Mata’ia, presided over the formal proceedings.

It was Lance’s final wish to have his funeral service at Unitec, according to his wife Marie.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to have Lance’s service here in our whare, because this is his whare too. It’s a place where he enjoyed working and being part of our whānau,” says Unitec-MIT Executive Director, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga.

“It is appropriate we celebrate his life here in this whare, Ngākau Mahaki, which means respect, as he was a man who gave much respect and love to others, as he was respected and loved by many.”

Lance was described as kind and humble, who prioritised the needs of his students and often went beyond the call of duty working after hours and on weekends.

“He did his job with a heart for service with care and love. He was active within our kaimahi networks, especially with Pacific. In 2017 he was recognised at our annual end of year Staff Awards, winning the People’s Choice, Unitec Champion Award,” Peseta says.

Lance’s wife Marie says he loved working at Unitec. “He loved this place, he loved his job.”

Marie met Lance while she was teaching at Samoa College in 1980. Five years his junior, it was not exactly love at first sight after meeting the “larrikin” with “long hair”. They met again a few years later at a PPTA meeting in Auckland.

“Phone numbers were exchanged and the rest is history,” Marie says.

“As an only child, my small family of three soon became a family of many as extended family came to stay with us. We enjoyed the company of Lance’s nephews and nieces, they were ours.”

Lance’s nephew Ropati Laulala remembers those days staying with his aunty and uncle with fondness as they would help him with his Maths and English.

“Uncle made people feel cared for and he made learning feel like fun. That was his strength as a career teacher,” Ropati reflects.

Marie says Lance was passionate about learners and he wanted to remove barriers to their success. The period during the COVID 19 lockdowns let him focus on his students even more.

“But it wasn’t all about learning, life for me with Lance was punctuated with fun. He was funny and entertaining,” she explains.

“He loved learning, he loved teaching, he loved his students, he loved his family, he loved me. He was the love of my life, and I will miss him.”

Lance’s younger brother Tuiafelolo Eti Laulala delivered a eulogy which gave an account of Lance’s upbringing in Samoa in the village of Sapapali’i, Savai’j.

Born on 1 October 1956, Lance was the third eldest of ten siblings. His academic ability was noticed from an early age, and this earned him a place at Samoa’s top secondary school Samoa College in Apia. Despite a “rebellious streak” in his teens, he was named the school’s dux in 1973. This earned him a scholarship to New Zealand where he attended Waitaki Boys’​ High School in Oamaru and the University of Canterbury.

Lance would go on to teach at Samoa College, Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in Ōtara and Massey University in Albany before arriving at Unitec on 9 September 2002. He became a fulltime staff member the following year.

Lance had an innate ability to teach maths to students who struggled with this subject. His high success rate of mentoring students into passing their courses and graduating had one former colleague describing him as a “Maths-Magician”.

Colleagues in the Learning and Achievement team spoke of those qualities in their tribute to him.

“Lance had a way of making people feel seen, heard and valued,” says Learning Development Lecturer, Margi Grey.

She said Lance worked with students across many schools. Lance approached his work with passion and empathy. He was able to simplify difficult maths concepts to help learners succeed. He contributed to the success of many learners who otherwise may have given up. Lance lives on in the work we do and the lives we touch.

Senior Lecturer, Applied Business Wajira Dassanayake worked with Lance for over twenty years on the Business Statistics course and during that time he described him as “deeply passionate about student success in statistics and mathematics, and his impact reached across all the schools at Unitec. I have always regarded him as a true champion of adult numeracy education.”

Pacific Success Navigator, Umusa Pava Saifoloi says Lance leaves behind a legacy of giving “hope for a brighter future” to so many. “Let us carry on his legacy as we continue our journey without Lance knowing his spirit will guide and inspire us to find the strength to persevere.”

Tributes also came from former classmates from Samoa College and colleagues and students from Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate.

“He was known as a rebel but wasn’t rebellious for the sake of being defiant,” says Academic Development Lecturer, Ioane Aleke Fa’avae, a former student from Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate who went on to work alongside Lance at Unitec.

“He broke rules to explore new ideas, challenge norms and to create positive change. This spirit of curiosity and courage shaped his teaching, his relationships and his impact with every student that walked through his door.”

Ioane added that Lance’s impact went beyond the classroom into community spaces and sports, where he excelled as a soccer and golf player. He uplifeted others and led with heart and purpose.

“Lance’s stories, his pride in his students and unwavering commitment to education are woven into the fabric of our school’s history. A life well lived, a legacy well earned, and a man who made a difference. Rest well our teacher, our friend, you will never be forgotten.”

A photo slideshow of Lance’s life followed the eulogies and tributes. Family, friends and colleagues then gathered for kai in Manaaki before gathering again in Ngākau Mahaki for a final waiata and farewell to Lance before departing.

Manuia lau malaga. Rest in peace Lance.

If you wish to contribute a meaalofa (koha) which will go towards a new scholarship for students to honour Lance’s memory, please deposit to the account below and leave your name as a reference:

 Account details: Rokosiga Morrison 01-0071-0307229-00