Lealamanu’a Aiga Caroline Mareko is from the villages of Lalomanu, Avao, Mulifanua, Faleula and Vaiusu. She is a Senior Leader for Whanau Manaaki Kindergartens and has worked for the Association since 2010. Caroline is currently the Presiding Member of Aotea College Board. She was the the NZ Council of Trade Unions representative on the Whitireia Governance Council prior to changes with Ministerial appointments to govern the Politech. She is currently on the Pacific Advisory for Whitireia Weltec and has been involved for the last 5 years.

Caroline is on the executive of the Porirua’s Pasifika Services Network since 2017 working with over 60 community and government agencies. She has held several voluntary positions with a range of committees and boards. such as Te Mana o Kupe Trust including National Co-Convenor of the Council of Trade Union Komiti Pasefika since 2015. Caroline chairs the NZEI Te Riu Roa Pasifika Leadership Caucus. Since 2012 she has led and organised events for Pinikilicious, a group of Pasifika women that promote health and wellbeing for Pacific women with a particular emphasis on breast and cervical screening.

Caroline was a primary school teacher in Porirua East for 18 years. She then went on to be the Pacific Education Coordinator for the Central South Ministry of Education Office and then to be a Review officer for the Wellington Education Review Office. Caroline is currently an elder at the Porirua Pacific Island Presbyterian Church of Christ the King Church.