Welcoming powerful Pacific youth voices to Le Va

Le Va welcomed new and returning members to its Youth Advisory Group (YAG) at a momentous two-day retreat on the wild west coast of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland at the end of summer.

The event aimed to capture the collective voices, ideas and aspirations of all new and returning YAG members, to support their leadership journeys and create opportunities to further engage Pacific youth across Aotearoa.

As Leilani Clarke, senior manager at Le Va, said, “The purpose of our Youth Advisory Group is to ensure young people have an authentic voice in shaping the direction, design and delivery of our work here at Le Va. The retreat was a moment to strengthen our connections and step into 2026 with a shared sense of purpose.”

A traditional Samoan Ava ceremony 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, it’s 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