Pacific Advisory Group

PACIFIC ADVISORY GROUP CHAIR

Tanuvasa Fa’alogo Rosi Fitzpatrick

Rosi Fitzpatrick is honoured to hold the matai titles of Tanuvasa from Apai, Manono and Fa’alogo from Sagone, Savai’i.  Her parents arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand in the 1950’s to fulfil their families’ dreams of educational achievement, spiritual advancement and economic success.  Her mother on a scholarship to attend secondary school and then teachers’ college and her father to support the establishment of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in NZ.  Rosi is committed to continuing their legacy of service/tautua to our Pasifika communities.

Rosi has wide governance experience including membership and support of Pacific Community groups, Women’s advocacy organisations, Pacific Early Learning services and a health regulatory authority.  She also has an appointed role in the District Court of NZ.

Rosi is a qualified Chartered Accountant and Managing Director of an educational consultancy with a focus on empowering families, building community capacity and lifting educators’ capability to improve outcomes in educational achievement.

PACIFIC ADVISORY GROUP DEPUTY CHAIR

‘Alakihihifo Vailala

‘Alakihihifo Vailala hails from the villages of Haveluloto, Fo’ui, Kolomotu’a, the island of ‘Eua and Koulo, Ha’apai.

‘Alakihihifo is currently the political reporter for PMN News based in the Press Gallery. She’s been involved with politics since high school when she was selected as the Youth MP for her hometown, Māngere. Through her work as a journalist, ‘Alakihihifo has travelled and reported from over 10 countries within the Pacific region. Being part of the only Pacific media outlet based in the Press Gallery, ‘Alakihihifo is dedicated to telling the stories of her Pacific community when it comes to politics. 

Aside from politics, ‘Alakihihifo is a trained classical violinist having played the instrument since the age of 11. After high school, she volunteered as a violin teacher at Tailulu College in Tongatapu for a year and also participated in Tonga’s Women’s Youth Parliament. 

‘Alakihihifo is passionate about advocating for the Pacific Community and young people.

Linda Kaua

Linda hails from the villages of Fa’alau and Farisi in Malaita, Solomon Islands. She was a teacher earlier in her career. For several years she worked for a couple of regional organisations in the Pacific both in Solomon Islands and Fiji. Her work involved research and high-level policy advice. This opportunity also gave her a wider taste of various Pacific island countries’ and territories’ culture. She moved over to New Zealand in 2018 and worked for the Pacific Cooperation Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that delivered programmes and projects in Aotearoa and the Pacific region. Her most recent role was in evaluation with New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

Linda is currently studying part-time towards a second Master’s degree. She hopes that with the team’s collective efforts, the Museum’s engagements with our communities will be strengthened and sustained. Furthermore, they will become more meaningful and impactful.

Leisau Yonah

Halo evriwan and warm Pacific greetings! My name is Leisau Yonah, and I am honored to represent Vanuatu, specifically I hail from the village of Mabfilau on Epi island.

I spent my early years in Vanuatu, where I met my husband, Peter. Together, we took a leap of faith and moved to Samoa, a journey that deepened my appreciation for Pacific cultures and strengthened my faith in God. Eventually, we settled in Aotearoa New Zealand, where I continue to embrace and celebrate my heritage.

As the Chairperson of the Auckland Vanuatu Community Association, I am deeply passionate about strengthening our Vanuatu community and fostering connections across all Pasifika peoples. A proud milestone in our journey was successfully hosting the Melanesian Festival in 2024, a vibrant celebration of our shared cultures. Looking ahead, I am committed to creating more opportunities that uplift, unite, and empower our Pacific communities.

I am excited to connect with the Auckland Museum whānau and the wider community, sharing the richness of Vanuatu’s culture while working collaboratively to honor and preserve our Pacific heritage.

Tankiu tumas, and I look forward to the journey ahead!

Reid Fuemana-Elisaia O’Brien

Reid is a proud daughter of the Pacific Ocean belonging to the islands of Tuvalu, Niue, Tokelau and American Samoa. An emerging Pasefika writer/director who has experience in research, business advisory, creative arts and production. Reid is the co-founder of Tuvalu Creative Collective and is very passionate in indigenous storytelling, climate change resilience and holds high value and importance to cultural sustainability. With a hunger to serve the Pacific community, Reid currently works at Tiki Lounge Productions ensuring our Pacific people and stories are being told and seen.

Tevita Faleafa

Tevita Tukuafu Faleafa is a proud South Aucklander with both parents from the beautiful islands of Tonga. His father hails from the villages of Kolomotua and Hofoa and his mother from the villages of Ha’apai and ‘Uiha. 

Tevita holds a Bachelors of Arts double major in Sociology and Pacific Studies and a Bachelor of Arts First Class Honours in Pacific Studies. 

Tevita is currently a Senior Education Adviser at the Ministry of Education. Previously the Senior Advisor Pasifika at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and prior to this the Advisor Pasifika with a demonstrated history in the higher education industry.

Tevita’s passion and drive within the education sector has always been around Māori and Pasifika learner success. It is also this passion that continues to remind Tevita the importance of having an adaptive and equitable education system for all learners. 

His reasoning for joining PAG is the opportunity of connecting the Museum as a place of learning and understanding for Pacific learners within South Auckland while also having the opportunity to work alongside and with the Museum to build initiatives and programs that will ensure a continuation of this. 

Vaimaila Urale

Vaimaila Urale was born in the village of Fagamalo, Savai’i, Samoa, in 1972. She also has family connections to the villages of Matavai, Falealupo and Safa’ato’a. Her aiga immigrated to Aotearoa, in 1974, where they laid their roots in Te Whānganui-a-Tara. She currently lives in Avondale, Tāmaki Makaurau, where both of her daughters were born.

Vaimaila is the co-founder and director of Moana Fresh, a platform dedicated to advocating for Pasifika and Māori creatives. She is also an interdisciplinary artist having presented work locally and internationally. As an artist she has developed a distinct mark making process that draws on traditional Samoan symbols expressed through digital media. Placing ancestral marks at the root of her art practice is vital and empowering. 

With over 30 years experience working in the arts industry, Vaimaila is passionate about the visual arts, heritage arts and performing arts of Moana Nui a Kiwa.

Soane Ngutukoula Pusiaki Tatuila

Born and raised on Auckland’s North Shore, Aotearoa New Zealand. I am a proud New Zealand-born Tongan with ancestral connections to the villages of Ata‘ata (Ha‘apai), Kolovai, Lapaha, Tatakamotonga, and Fatumu in the Kingdom of Tonga.

For over 25 years, I have dedicated my life to the preservation, promotion, and development of Tongan performing arts and cultural knowledge. As Co-Director and Co-Choreographer of Pukepuke ‘o Tonga, I have worked extensively across Central, South, and North Auckland, mentoring young people through Tongan dance, language, cultural values, and identity.

I am the lead singer and custodian of the Lomipeau repertoire composed by the late Queen Sālote Tupou III, and a practitioner of traditional Tongan dance forms and cultural instruments. Following in the footsteps of my great-grandfather, who served as a poet, composer, and cultural practitioner for the Queen, I continue this legacy as a fourth-generation Punake (composer, choreographer, and cultural knowledge holder).

My commitment to youth development has been a central focus of my work. Since 2005, I have composed, written, and choreographed for schools participating in Auckland Polyfest, supporting the growth of future generations of Tongan performers and cultural practitioners. Through this work, I have become a respected senior practitioner within the Tongan Punake community.

In addition to my performing arts practice, I am the host and producer of Fala-Talks, a community podcast that provides a platform for Pasifika voices across generations. Through talanoa, the podcast explores issues relevant to Pacific communities, creating space for meaningful dialogue, cultural reflection, and informed discussion. The podcast has successfully produced more than 15 episodes and continues to grow its audience and impact.

My work is grounded in the belief that cultural knowledge must be actively upheld, shared, and passed on to future generations. Through leadership, mentorship, advocacy, and creative practice, I remain committed to strengthening Tongan cultural identity, fostering relationships across Pacific communities, and contributing to collective wellbeing through the values of talanoa, respect, and service.

I am passionate about creating lasting cultural legacies that honour our ancestors while empowering future generations. Together, as Pacific peoples, we can move forward with one voice and one ocean.

Mālō ‘aupito, ‘ofa lahi atu