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.
____________________________________________________
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.
Le Va was the primary sponsor for the two-day ASB Polyfest Leaders Conference in January, bringing together more than 100 student leaders for cultural master classes as they prepare for ASB Polyfest 2024.
The event was hosted by Le Va Project Coordinator Trent Faliu as MC, and the Le Va team delivered three ‘I AM’ workshops, putting Pasifika cultural values into action for Pasifika youth to discover how to strengthen their self-worth.
On 12 February, the Le Va team took part in the inaugural TupuToa Summit – aimed at growing young Māori and Pasifika leaders for a greater Aotearoa.
The event was packed full of inspiring Māori and Pacific professionals and community leaders, sharing their experiences and insights about career opportunities with hundreds of young interns and high school students from around the motu.
Le Va’s Senior Manager Mental Health and Addiction, Toleafoa Mark Esekielu, said of the summit, “It was inspiring for our team to meet so many intelligent and engaged young Pacific people in one space. They came from such diverse areas of study from across the country and from overseas, with a clear desire to support their Pasifika communities.”
The theme for the 2024 summit was inspired by the Niuean proverb ‘Tu ke mau, neke to’, meaning ‘Stand tall, so you won’t fall’ – a powerful message of encouragement for our young people to remain steadfast and resilient in the face of adversity.
Throughout January we put out a call for new members for the Le Va Youth Advisory Group, a team of young Pasifika ambassadors, thinkers and dreamers who help us to inform and embed the youth voice into Le Va’s research and practices.
Applications to join the group are now closed, and we will have an announcement next month about the successful candidates as we continue to empower the Pasifika leaders of tomorrow.
______________________________
Find out more about Le Va for Youth.
I believe all issues in the world are connected – things like mental health, climate change, as well as child poverty. No young person should have to live in an environment where they can’t thrive. – Nele Kalolo
As the proud sponsor of the Pacific Emerging Leadership category for the Sunpix Pacific People’s Awards, Le Va celebrated alongside winners Āniva Clarke and Nele Kalolo on the night of 13 November.
Honouring the resilience, creativity, and leadership of young Pacific people, the category recognises Pasifika youth leadership and the valuable foundation that creates for the future.
Both Nele and Āniva are impressive young women, dedicated to serving their communities, sharing their culture and advocating for positive change.
Nele Kalolo
Nele hails from the villages of Faga and Vaimoso in Samoa and is a Young Ambassador for Unicef Aotearoa, Deputy Chair for the Consumer Advisory Committee at Pharmac, and a Tuakana for MAPAS and the Tuākana Arts Programme at the University of Auckland.
Nele joined Le Va’s Youth Advisory Group in 2023 and has supported community engagement at events like Polyfest and our Niu Wave graduations. Her ability to articulate issues facing Pasifika youth with clarity and passion has been an inspiration for those around her.
“I believe all issues in the world are connected – things like mental health, climate change, as well as child poverty. No young person should have to live in an environment where they can’t thrive,” said Nele.
Āniva Clarke and family
Āniva grew up in Samoa and has served as a youth ambassador on climate and environment to the UN Committee. Her local community advocacy led her to become the first youth ambassador for Pacific Women in Climate Change Network and this year she became the first Samoan Head Prefect at Diocesan School for Girls.
Āniva has been part of Le Va’s Niu Wave programme for two years, and over that time she has consistently demonstrated powerful leadership qualities.
She said, “It is beyond an honour to have received the Pacific Emerging Leadership Award. Le Va encouraged my leadership as a Pasifika youth and helped to equip me with the tools to navigate spaces where we are a minority.
“I am beginning my first year at university next year studying towards a Bachelor of Laws conjoint with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Geography and Pacific Studies. I hope this pathway leads me to be a part of organisations that work in the spaces of Human Rights as well as the environment, and approach these roles through a Pasifika perspective.”
We are fortunate to have both young women as a part of our Le Va community, and we are confident that the future of Pasifika youth is looking bright with Āniva and Nele leading the way.
Le Va is part of the Wise Group. Copyright ©2025
