MPs from the Pacific Region visit Le Va

New Zealand’s Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF) along with the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee hosted 40 delegates from 17 countries across Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia in November. 

 
The purpose of the Forum was for Pacific Leaders to engage with and learn from their fellow Pacific and NZ leaders, but also an opportunity for NZ leaders to hear of the issues and concerns in the pacific & look at ways NZ might be able to assist its pacific neighbours.

The Forum spilt into smaller groups and visited a few of the Pasifika community groups mainly businesses & a few from the heath sector, limiting each to only an hour only, Le Va was one of the groups visited.

 
Our visit began with a welcome by Le Va’s Matua le Afioga Tiava’asu’e Levaopolo who welcomed our special visitors that included Samoa MP Hon Loau Solamalemalo Keneti Sio, former Manu Samoa player & also MPs from America Samoa, Ngauru, Cook Is, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Fiji and hosts from MFAT. Following the welcome Le Va performed an ava ceremony lead by le Susuga ia Alaelua Malesala Malesala & members and leaders from his Aganu’u class.

 
Lunch followed quickly after the Ava ceremony which then introductions by the Le Va team before CE Monique Faleafa presented Le Va’s work across the health Sectors & in our Pacific Communities. Which was well received by the Pacific MPs who were amazed at the volume of work that is produced with limited resources and limited finances by Le Va!

 
It was a short but insightful visit for our guests yet the connection could open further opportunities for Le Va to engage in the Pacific