Lived experience fono: Uniting voices to create change

On the last day of June, Pacific people with lived experience of disability, addiction or mental health challenges, and the workforce who support them, gathered in Papatoetoe for the ‘Tiare Ruperupe 2025: Combined Regional Fono’.

Hosted by 3village1island, attendees came from across Aotearoa – from Ōtautahi, Pōneke and Napier – to connect, share and help shape a positive future for our families and communities.

Members of Le Va’s mental health and addiction team welcomed the opportunity to join the fono, which united practitioners and lived experience leaders across the mental health, addiction and disability sectors.

Jasmine Leota, senior project coordinator at Le Va, said, “The fono created a valuable platform for talanoa, connection and shared insight.
“We were honoured to hear from Dr Junior Ulu, Director of Pacific Health at the Ministry of Health – his contribution added significant depth to the day’s discussions.”

Our team also had the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the remarkable achievements of Papali’i Seiuli Johnny Siaosi (KSM), a respected leader and pioneer in the sector, recently awarded the King’s Service Medal in the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours.

Nearly everyone at the fono had lived experience of disability, addiction or mental health challenges or had personal lived experience of supporting fanau.

The shared goal at the fono was to strengthen the Pasifika workforce through collaboration, and contribute to building a robust Pacific mental health and addiction workforce at an event that helped infuse hope, knowledge and support.