In 2026, Le Va welcomed four new emerging Pacific leaders to join our established Youth Advisory Group (YAG). Their mission – to help embed the youth voice into Le Va’s work that supports youth to unleash their full potential.
We’d like you to meet these exciting young people who will help guide Le Va on our continued journey to better support the wellbeing of Pacific youth in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Maya Blackman
Kia ora, my name is Maya Blackman, I’m a rangatahi Māori from Rotorua and I’m super passionate about supporting our young people, especially in ways that honour our ahurea (culture), tuakiritanga (identity) and hauora (wellbeing).
Through kapa haka, cultural advocacy and volunteering, I’ve learned how to connect with rangatahi and support them to thrive. To me, mental health is about the holistic hauora of rangatahi. It’s about having the support, understanding and safe spaces needed to navigate these challenges.
I’m committed to listening, amplifying rangatahi voices and creating solutions that resonate with not just my people and my culture, but the diverse range of cultures we have here in Aotearoa.
My hope for the Youth Advisory Group is to develop initiatives that support rangatahi wellbeing and to work alongside other young leaders to make a meaningful difference in our communities. I want to contribute in ways that are culturally relevant, inclusive and empowering for our rangatahi.
Levi Fa’amita Fa’ausuusu
Talofa lava, my name is Levi. I’m 23 years old, born and bred in Manurewa, South Auckland, New Zealand.
I work with the organisation Mapu Maia, where we provide free confidential counselling services relating to mental health, gambling harm and other addictions. I love the work that I’m doing, love the mahi and I feel like it really aligns with the mahi that Le Va has.
In terms of the youth role and what mental health means to me, I feel like our rangatahi today and our youth today, especially Pasifika, we battle a lot with cultural identity, expectations, shamefulness and stigma, as well as socioeconomic barriers. All these four things are a huge challenge for us Pasifika.
I believe that a solution to this is creating a system or creating tools for our rangatahi, for our youth to thrive as Pacific and Māori people.
Rouru Daisy Fuavao
Hi, my name is Rouru. My Papa is Tongan and my Nana is Cook Islands, and I am the eldest daughter of many siblings. One of my biggest blessings in life would be being the eldest – it’s given me a sense of responsibility and a lot of joy watching my younger siblings grow and supporting them whenever I can.
I first started working for the Tongan Youth Trust when I was in high school and it was such an eye opener to the struggles Pasifika youth face. It was then that my passion for youth advocacy ignited.
My hope for YAG is real change led by youth, for youth. I want to make sure the solutions that we create aren’t just theoretical and that they reflect the lived experiences of actual young Pasifika people. I want to leave a legacy of action, accountability and meaningful impact instead of words just on a paper.
Uelese Jason Motusaga
I’m a proud Samoan youth, Pasifika and community advocate, spoken word artist, writer and student leader. I come from the villages of Iva Tuana’i, Salagi and Saleilua.
For Pacific communities, mental health is still treated like a taboo topic, but I believe it’s essential to our identity and strength as tagata Pasifika. Now more than ever, especially for our young people, we need to prioritise and nurture it. We carry the hopes of our ancestors as we are the answers to their prayers. Part of honouring that is breaking silence, confronting trauma and building a future where wellbeing is openly supported.
Overall, my hope is that this Youth Advisory Group grows into a powerful platform where young people are safe, valued and culturally grounded and supported to lead real change, not just for ourselves, but for the future generations and for the Pasifika communities we represent now and in the future.
Learn more about Le Va’s Youth Advisory Group.
The buzz is back at ASB Polyfest 2026, and Le Va is once again at the heart of the action at the Manukau Sports Bowl.
As a Platinum Sponsor of the world’s largest Pacific secondary schools cultural festival, Le Va ensures its fale is a magnet for young people eager to connect and share their voices.
Chief Executive of Le Va, Mati Dr Elizabeth Mati, says, “Wishing all our incredible Polyfest performers the very best as you take the stage. Le Va is honoured to stand alongside the organisers, families, schools, tutors and communities whose love and dedication make this beautiful celebration of our culture possible.”
Le Va’s fan-favourite corned beef lifting challenge and temporary tatau station are drawing enthusiastic crowds and, if you’re aged 16 or over, there’s even more reason to stop by – be one of the first 1,000 to complete Le Va’s online youth wellbeing survey and receive Polyfest dollars to spend at the surrounding kai vendors.
Polyfest is a vibrant celebration of culture, identity and youth leadership where the known link between cultural identity and wellbeing is clear.
As such, the Pasifika youth survey is at the heart of Le Va’s presence at the festival. The insights gathered from young Pacific people directly shape the programmes and resources Le Va develops for communities across Aotearoa – covering mental health, coping strategies and what support young people want and need.
There’s another special reason to visit Le Va’s fale this Friday, 20 March. Aotearoa New Zealand’s Children’s Commissioner, Dr Claire Achmad, will be joining Dr Mati to speak with Pacific youth at 1pm.
Her visit is a strong signal that the voices of young Pacific people matter at the very highest levels and promises to be a meaningful and memorable moment in the festival.
It underlines the national importance of listening to young Pacific voices and ensuring those insights reach the people and systems that can act on them.
ASB Polyfest 2026 continues to be a powerful reminder that when communities come together, our young people thrive. The event runs until Saturday 21 March at the Manukau Sports Bowl, so come and find Le Va’s fale and make your voice heard!
Le Va welcomed new and returning members to its Youth Advisory Group (YAG) at a two-day event on the wild west coast of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland last weekend.
The event aimed to capture the collective voices, ideas and aspirations of all YAG members, to support their leadership journeys and create opportunities to further engage Pacific youth across Aotearoa.
Le Va chief executive Mati Dr Elizabeth Mati noted, “Our youth are deeply valued at Le Va. We honour their voice by ensuring they help shape the wellbeing spaces created for them, and we show that value by nurturing the vā, walking alongside them as they grow in confidence, leadership and purpose.”
A traditional Samoan Ava ceremony to welcome the youth set the tone for everything that followed, honouring cultural roots and adding solemnity and weight to the work ahead. It was a timely reminder that what the group does is more than just advisory, its service.
For many of the young people in the room, being welcomed in this way felt meaningful and mattered deeply. It proved that culture was the foundation the retreat was built on.
Throughout the two days, YAG members showed they were there to create positive change, to help design solutions that uplift youth and make a real difference.
When asked about the power of Pasifika youth, their responses spoke of family as their motivation, faith as a source of guidance, and collective strength as a community.
What was evident after the retreat was that our youth are the leaders of today – passionate, insightful and hungry for change.
Their reflections highlighted a shared sense of purpose and the desire to see young Pacific people in Aotearoa empowered, visible and thriving.
Learn more about Le Va’s YAG: Youth Advisory Group
New YAG members
Maya Blackman, Māori, Waikato/Rotorua
Uelese Jason Motusaga, Samoan/Tongan, Auckland
Levi Faamita, Samoan, Auckland
Rouru Daisy Fuavao, Māori/Cook Islands/Tongan, Auckland/Dunedin
Junior Lemalu, Samoan, Auckland
Returning YAG members
Athalia Moala-Oliver, Tongan, Auckland
Austin Laulu, Samoan, Auckland
Ceilidh Brown, Niuean, Waikato
Epeli Prescott, Tongan, Auckland/Dunedin
Gemma Elbourne-O’Rourke, Fijian/Wallisian, Auckland
Jessica Tupai, Samoan/Tongan, Wellington/Dunedin
Joshua Taefu, Samoan, Auckland
The 2026 ASB Polyfest Leaders Conference kicked off today, bringing together student leaders from across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and beyond as they prepare for this year’s ASB Polyfest season.
As a proud sponsor of the conference, Le Va continues its commitment to investing in emerging Pacific leaders and supporting the wellbeing of our youth.
The two-day conference serves as the first major engagement for the 2026 Polyfest season, connecting student leaders including head girls, head boys, prefects, mentors and cultural leaders before the official school year begins.
For Le Va, sponsoring the Leaders Conference aligns perfectly with our organisation’s mission to support Pasifika families and communities to unleash their full potential. By investing in these young leaders early in the year, Le Va helps ensure they have the foundation to thrive both in their cultural performances and their broader lives.
This annual gathering has become an essential foundation for building relationships among schools and equipping young leaders with the tools they need to guide their cultural groups throughout the year.
The Leaders Conference represents much more than preparation for a four-day festival. The event is about fostering long-term connections, leadership development, and cultural pride that extends well beyond the Polyfest stages.
Participants engage in workshops exploring themes central to Pacific wellbeing and identity, cultural activities, and leadership development sessions. The conference creates space for students to connect with peers from different schools, learn from each other’s experiences, and build the supportive networks that strengthen their communities.
2026 will mark a new chapter in the festival’s history, with performances taking place across two venues for the first time. The main festival runs from 18-21 March at the Manukau Sports Bowl, with the Māori stage scheduled for 30 March to 2 April at Due Drop Events Centre.
We look forward to seeing you there!
When we think about Pacific peoples, we often picture the stars, the ocean waves, and the way our ancestors read the world around them with precision and purpose.
That same spirit of exploration and innovation lives on in our young people today – in the lab, in the lecture hall, in the moments when curiosity meets possibility.
The Toloa Scholarships celebrate this connection. They recognise that STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – isn’t something foreign to Pacific learners.
These skills have always been part of who we are, woven into how we have understood and shaped our world for generations.
Removing barriers, building futures
For many of our young people, the path to education isn’t always straightforward. There are costs that add up – uniforms, course materials, accommodation, the everyday expenses that can become overwhelming. These barriers can stand between a student and their potential, between curiosity and the chance to pursue it fully.
That’s where Toloa comes in. The scholarships provide targeted financial support for both secondary and tertiary Pacific students, covering everything from school essentials to university tuition and research costs. It’s about giving our taiohi the breathing room they need to focus on learning and exploring fields they’re passionate about without the weight of financial stress holding them back.
Le Va administers these scholarships on behalf of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, and we see firsthand the difference this support makes. When a student’s family doesn’t have to choose between buying textbooks or groceries, when they can say yes to that field trip or research opportunity, new pathways emerge and confidence can grow.
A future shaped by our communities
STEM careers offer incredible opportunities for individual students, for our communities and for Aotearoa. We need Pacific voices in health, in technology, in environmental science, in engineering. We need our young people solving problems, innovating, leading.
The Toloa Scholarships are part of building that future. They’re an investment in potential, in dreams, in the next generation of Pacific navigators charting courses through new territories.
Applications are now open, and the Le Va team is ready to support students and whānau through the process.
For more information and to apply, visit Toloa Scholarships.
Over two impactful days in April, around 700 people joined together at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau for Le Va’s Global Pacific Solutions 2025 conference – uniting Pacific leaders, academics, international guest speakers, workforce and community members in a tour de force of strengths-based solution seeking.
Bringing to light tough topics such as child trafficking, suicide prevention, climate change, child sexual abuse, equity for disabled people and the ever-growing demand for mental health and addiction support workers, GPS 2025 was an event that opened minds, challenged the status quo and inspired hope for all who attended.
At times, the audience was moved to tears upon hearing transformative stories of overcoming adversity, fighting for justice and connecting to culture in a way that enhances our true selves.
Inspirational plenary speakers and breakout presenters communicated passionately, sharing their expertise to advance the knowledge of all who listened.
When opening the ‘Nurturing our Children’ plenary panel at GPS 2025, Le Va’s chief executive, Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave, said, “It is both an honour and a solemn responsibility to welcome you to today’s panel discussion on child sexual abuse and child trafficking across the wider Pacific.
“This is a conversation that demands our full attention, our collective expertise and most importantly, our unwavering commitment to action.
“The Pacific is home to diverse and resilient communities, but it is not immune to the global crises of child sexual exploitation and trafficking.”
We know that the solutions lie within our communities – GPS 2025 was an opportunity to bring together into one space the hearts, spirits and minds of hundreds of people, all eager to ignite change and promote the power of Indigenous intelligence.
Over the coming weeks, Le Va will be sharing many of the insights and solutions that were explored throughout Global Pacific Solutions 2025, with gratitude to everyone who was present and contributed to this important kaupapa.
Please subscribe to our eNewsletter to learn more: www.leva.co.nz/subscribe
No amount of rain could dampen the spirit of the Le Va team at this April’s 50th anniversary ASB Polyfest in the Manukau Sports Bowl.
The world’s largest Pacific festival opened with a powerful pōwhiri, setting the tone for four days of songs, dances, performances, food and community.
As the official Youth Wellbeing Sponsor of the event, Le Va filled its iconic inflatable fale with a range of activations to engage the young Pacific people and encourage them to complete an online youth wellbeing survey.
Le Va’s temporary Pacific tattoo station and infamous Corned Beef lifting challenge were a huge hit, and those aged 16 or over who completed the survey received Polyfest dollars to spend on delicious Pacific food.
Recently, Le Va published its 2024 Polyfest Mental Health & Wellbeing Survey: Youth insights report, which explores key factors affecting youth mental health.
Responses from 1,150 participants to the 2024 youth wellbeing survey highlighted critical mental health and social needs among Pasifika, Māori and other diverse youth populations.
The report identifies the preferred coping strategies and support platforms of New Zealand youth aged 16-24 years and gives insights into their mental health needs and support preferences.
Le Va’s gifting of its youth insights report to our communities is a meaningful reflection of the theme of Polyfest 2025 – “LEGACY – a treasure handed down – He oha nō tua, he taonga tuku iho!”
Download Le Va’s Youth insights report
“I knew it took a village to raise me, but now I will carry that village with me everywhere I go.”
More than 300 Pasifika student leaders came together in January to connect, share ideas and prepare for the incredible 50th anniversary of ASB Polyfest.
As sponsor of the 2025 Polyfest Leaders Conference, Le Va was proud to invest in the future of our emerging Pacific leaders as they got ready to shine at the world’s biggest Pacific festival.
Day one of the two-day conference began with an unforgettable sense of mana and connection. It was a humbling reminder of the richness of our Pacific cultures and the strength we draw from our collective identity.
Jim Stretton, senior project coordinator at Le Va, said of the event, “The Polyfest Leaders Conference was truly something special. For me, it meant so much to be part of something that uplifts and empowers the next generation. Seeing so many of our future Pacific leaders together in one space was incredibly powerful.”
Jim added, “I was fortunate to lead our I AM workshop, and it was evident how much it resonated with the students. Strengthening our culture strengthens our self worth, and this message fits beautifully with the enduring legacy of Polyfest.”
By embracing our cultural roots, we honour the treasures of our ancestors and shape a stronger future for generations to come – an approach that aligns well with this year’s Polyfest theme of ‘Legacy – a treasure handed down. He oha nō tua, he taonga tuku iho!’
Our Le Va team was deeply inspired by the energy and passion each student brought to the workshop, and honoured to stand alongside these emerging Pasifika leaders as they pave the way for the future.
One student said, “I knew it took a village to raise me, but now I will carry that village with me everywhere I go.”
That sentiment summed up the entire experience – helping these young leaders realise that when they perform, excel in school, and embrace their culture, they’re not just building their own legacy but also honouring their ancestors.
Congratulations to the joint winners of the Pacific Emerging Leadership Award, sponsored by Le Va, at the 2024 SunPix Pacific Peoples Awards on 22 November.
Selu-Kian Lealiifano Faletoese is a Samoan storyteller, producer, and co-founder of Lalaga Niu, dedicated to preserving Indigenous and Pasifika stories.
A 2021 AUT graduate in TV and Screen Production, she has worked on films like ‘E lele le Toloa’ and ‘Koroseta’ and has contributed to research on marginalised communities.
Through Lalaga Niu, Selu-Kian empowers youth and amplifies Pasifika voices in storytelling.
Tristan Petelo Ah-Sui, currently a student at the University of Auckland, is a passionate advocate for Pacific youth.
As co-founder of the Village Arts Association, a Samoan teacher at Dilworth School and organiser of the Le Manumea conference, he empowers Pacific students through education and cultural pride.
Through his platform, The Tautua Movement, Tristan amplifies Pacific voices and supports community causes.
The Pacific Emerging Leadership Award recognises Pacific youth leadership and the valuable foundation that creates for the future.
Le Va looks forward to seeing what both Selu-Kian and Tristan continue to achieve in the years to come.
Watch the ceremony
You can watch coverage of the SunPix Pacific Peoples Awards ceremony below:
Le Va’s Youth Advisory Group came together at the end of July to talanoa about youth engagement on social media, putting together a plan to highlight International Youth Day on 12 August.
One of the key insights from our youth survey at Polyfest 2024 earlier this year was that our Pasifika young people often turn to social media to seek wellbeing support.
Instagram and TikTok were the top two platforms, receiving more votes than services like church, youth groups or face-to-face counselling.
As a result, the Youth Advisory Group (YAG) with support from Le Va’s Niu Wave team formulated a plan to relaunch Le Va’s TikTok account with some fun content to appeal to their peers.
In the countdown to International Youth Day, they worked together to bring their ideas to life, filming ‘get ready with me’ videos to share a snapshot of their daily lives.
International Youth Day 2024 arrived and the team launched a video they had filmed and edited themselves, in celebration of youth and talking about the legacy they want to leave behind.
Niu Wave project manager, Sonia Pope, said, “It was great for Le Va to see how our young people valued this collaboration and how they wanted to exercise their youth voice.
“It is important for us to celebrate young people and to continue collaborating with our YAG on Le Va initiatives. With their help, we can ensure we continue to connect with our young people in the digital spaces they occupy.”
At Le Va we are grateful to benefit from the advice of our dedicated Youth Advisory Group, and are excited to see the impact of their creative ideas in making our online presence even more vibrant and engaging.
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Check out our TikTok channel to get to know our YAG members!
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