Meet Le Va’s new Youth Advisors

In 2026, Le Va selected 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 research and practices around mental health and wellbeing.

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.