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!
Throughout Youth Week from 20-26 May, Le Va celebrated by sharing the results of our youth survey alongside insights from our Youth Advisory Group.
The theme for Youth Week 2024 was ‘Māwherangi a tama roto ka taka, kāpuia ake ka pūrangiaho – We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.’
For Pasifika people, collectivism and togetherness are some of our core values. Our youth are empowered to unleash their full potential when their relationships are flourishing and they are connected to a village of healthy support.
During Polyfest 2024, Le Va carried out a survey that captured the voices of more than 1,150 young people aged 16-24. With a focus on mental health and wellbeing, the survey explored factors that impact mental health, where our youth seek support and possible solutions.
Our survey results showed that 65% of Pasifika youth rate their mental health as good or excellent and 80% feel hopeful about the future. Friends, family and teachers were the most frequently chosen sources of support for youth when they need help.
Our young people reported that the top five stress factors currently impacting their mental health are: school responsibilities; not enough or too much sleep; social media; feeling alone; and family responsibilities.
On the flip side, the top five things with a positive effect on youth mental health are: listening to music; connecting with friends; connecting with family; prayer/reading the bible; and outdoor activities.
The highest ranked services or platforms providing wellbeing support are: Instagram; TikTok; church; youth group; and face-to-face counselling.
At Le Va, we are committed to supporting our youth to unleash their full potential. Investing in the wellbeing of youth now will create a better future for all.
The voices of our young people are essential to the work we do at Le Va for Youth. It supports the work we do in the design, development, delivery, and evaluation of Le Va’s initiatives for young people.
Below are some of the key findings from our youth survey.
- Our data shows that 60% of youth would turn to a friend and 59% to a family member for help, while only 10% would seek help from a counsellor.
- Nearly two thirds of youth (65%) surveyed rated their mental wellbeing as good or excellent, while 30% rated it as okay.
- More than one quarter of our youth identified ‘school responsibilities’ as a current stressor impacting their mental health.
- Nearly half (49%) of youth who participated in our survey selected music as something that improves their mental health.
- Instagram was selected by the most youth (35%) as a platform/service that provides the best wellbeing support, followed closely by Tik Tok (33%). In contrast, Facebook was only selected by 9% of youth.
- Eighty percent of youth who completed our survey reported hope for the future.
Le Va’s Niu Wave programme was created and designed for Pasifika students to go through a journey that will teach them how to take care of their overall wellbeing as they study.
Our Niu Wave team leads the youth wellbeing programme for all recipients of the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Toloa Secondary School Scholarships.
In May, the team kicked off the programme with their first online meeting of the year for the 2024 Toloa cohort.
The information session was a chance for students to connect with Le Va, meet the Niu Wave team and learn about our partnership with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
As part of the Niu Wave programme, students will learn about topics like cultural identity, mental health, respectful relationships, spirituality and leadership.
Each student will be matched with a Niu Wave mentor who will guide them through the programme, answer questions and address any concerns.
Wellbeing workshops held throughout the year are designed to enhance students’ overall wellbeing and facilitate their learning.
This is all delivered within a village-style setting, where students will meet other Pasifika youth from their region and join a digital village chat group online.
Congratulations to all the successful 2024 Toloa students – exciting times are ahead for you all and we are so happy to be part of your Niu Wave wellbeing journey!
We would like to introduce our four new members for 2024, who we welcomed and inducted into the group on 16 March at Logan Campbell House in the Auckland Botanic Gardens.
Faauatua Tuiatua
Talofa lava, my name is Faatuatua Tuiatua. I’m 19 years of age and a proud Samoan. It’s an honour and a privilege to be a youth advisor for 2024. It has always been my passion to help our Polynesian brothers and sisters overcome mental health issues.
Epeli Prescott
Malo e lelei, my name is Epeli Prescott. I am currently a Year 12 student at Mt Albert Grammar School. I have a passionate niche for the performing arts but also for health sciences, where I will be seeking tertiary education. I am a member of the Pacific Health Science Academy and a recipient of the TOLOA scholarship for STEAM. I am thrilled to be a part of the Le Va Youth Advisory Group in order to aid our Pacific community through the work of our youth.
Fili Fono
Talofa lava and malo e lelei, my name is Fili and I am one of the new members in the Le Va Youth Advisory Group. I hail from the beautiful islands of Samoa and Tonga. I graduated from Wesley College in 2021 and am currently in my second year of my Health Science degree at the University of Auckland.
Applying for this position was an opportunity to not only have a voice to advocate for Pasifika youth, but an eye opener to the different perspectives that our Pasifika people hold. Mental health is such an underrated topic amongst our Pasifika communities and this being one of Le Va’s key focuses contributed to my passion and drive to apply for this group. I am beyond grateful to have been selected and am excited for the things I will learn along the way, but also to be in a space where I’m able to serve and advocate for our Pasifika youth.
Eddstar Tupolo
Talofa lava, my name is Eddstar Jaynie Tupolo, a proud Island born Tama’ita’i Samoa from the villages of Vaipu’a, Lefagaoalii, Asau and Salelologa in the big island of Savai’i. Also the villages of Vaiusu, Lokoso’a Sale’imoa, and Solosolo in Upolu. I currently reside in Porirua, Wellington.
I am 23 years young, qualified in Māori & Pasifika performing arts, an international pageant contestant who has a big heart for her family, loved ones and community and is an advocate for Pasifika and Rainbow wellbeing.
I believe that leadership is not about positions and titles, but is about one life inspiring and encouraging another. With this amazing opportunity, I am happy to bring my people and ancestors with me in a space where I can utilise and extend my knowledge and experience more in working with youth, Rainbow & Pasifika communities in general.
I firmly believe that centralising the needs of our Indigenous and Pacific people is imperative. With my Performing Arts hat and alongside my work for Ngā Uri o Whiti Te Rā Mai Le Moana Trust as a Rainbow Administrator and Schools Coordinator, I am able to connect more with rangatahi through the fields of cultural music and performing arts. Utilising our cultural stories as a safe blanket in expressing their own journey and stories.
I look forward to taking this next step with Le Va’s Youth Advisory Group without expectations, but my hopes lie within the health and wellbeing of our people.
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