A Samoan couple in their 60s celebrated a milestone in New Zealand this week when they both graduated with doctorates – confirming that it is never too late to learn. 

The conferment of the couple's double PhD at a graduation ceremony in Christchurch was confirmed by the University of Canterbury, which reported that the milestone was a "very special" occasion for the New Zealand-based Samoan doctorate holders. 

Saili Aukuso, 60, and her husband Levi Simeona Tavita, 64, were among graduates of the Te Whare Wananga o Waitaha University of Canterbury graduation celebration earlier this week. 

They were surrounded by their family members, friends and loved ones as they celebrated their educational milestone. The couple were among the 1,500 students to attend four graduation events held over the week, and were the first to go through a face-to-face graduation held by the university since April 2021 due to COVID-19.

"Saili, who completed her PhD in Education studying Samoan children’s early literacy development, says it was 'very special' to graduate with partner Levi," read the University of Canterbury report.

"The couple, who were both born in Samoa, have been together for 22 years."

According to Saili, the conferment of her PhD degree together with her partner meant they were meant to do it together. 

“I think it was meant to be for us to walk in the same ceremony," Saili said. "It means a lot to me and my family and I think it’s very unusual for a Samoan couple to be graduating with PhDs together. 

"We want to set an example, especially for the young ones.”

Levi, who has a PhD in Pacific Studies focused on the dilemma of power relations in Samoa, and had family members travel from Australia and Hawaii to celebrate the occasion.

He said it wasn’t planned that he would graduate with Saili, but the timing for the both of them just worked out.

When Saili began her PhD studies in 2017, he decided it was an opportunity for him to go down the same path, after already completing a Master of Arts in languages. 

“I thought maybe it’s time for me," he said.

Both have a teaching background, with Saili training at the Christchurch College of Education 16 years ago. They met while working at a school in Auckland.

Saili is now working as a researcher on the Better Start Literacy Approach, a programme which helps teach children to read and has been introduced in hundreds of primary schools around the New Zealand, and is led by University of Canterbury's Professor Gail Gillon.

Levi is a director of the Niupac Trust which specialises in bilingual education.

“It’s good to be useful," he says. “We also like to empower others, especially Pasifika youth.”