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The Pacific Fono

Overview

The Pacific Fono comprises Workforce Development Council members of Pacific heritage. The Pacific Fono is a collective voice who provides strategic leadership across WDCs.

Our purpose is to ensure that the WDC ecosystem is delivering on its obligations to help Pacific learners and āiga/families. We do this by:

  • providing knowledge, insights, advice and support to strengthen WDCs’ shared understanding of the issues specific to Pacific learners.
  • Engaging with Pacific industry and business and Pacific communities in the Vocational Education system.
  • conveying consistent messages about Pacific needs, and gaps, in the WDCs and Vocational Education system.
  • ensuring alignment of approaches to Pacific related work programmes across WDCs, and
  • celebrating Pacific success.

The members of the Pacific Fono are:

(Hanga-Aro-Rau) | Co-Chair for Pacific Fono

Jerome Mika

Jerome Mika is Community and Business Development Lead at The Cause Collective, a Pacific social change agency in South Auckland. He has previously held a number of roles focusing on...
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Jerome Mika

(Hanga-Aro-Rau) | Co-Chair for Pacific Fono
(Toitū Te Waiora) | Co-Chair for Pacific Fono

Tofilau Talalelei Taufale

Tofilau Talalelei Taufale is the Pacific Health Development Manager for the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board, a position he has held for the past 10 years. Tofilau previously held senior roles at William Colenso College,...
Image of Tofilau Talalelei Taufale

Tofilau Talalelei Taufale

(Toitū Te Waiora) | Co-Chair for Pacific Fono
(Ringa Hora) | Chair for Ringa Hora

Hinerangi Edwards

Hinerangi Edwards, Taranaki, Ngāruahine, Taranaki, Ngāti Ruanui, Te Arawa is an executive director and co-owner of AATEA, a Kaupapa Māori professional services consultancy. She was also the co-chair of the interim Establishment Board for the Primary Industries...
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Hinerangi Edwards

(Ringa Hora) | Chair for Ringa Hora
Ringa Hora

Hinurewa te Hau

Hinurewa te Hau Whakatōhea, Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Kahungunu, Maniapoto, Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa, is the General Manager of Creative Northland, the regional arts development agency for Te Tai Tokerau. With a wealth of experience as a business leader, she is a strong...
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Hinurewa te Hau

Ringa Hora
(Muka Tangata)

Iani Nemani

Iani Nemani has Tongan and Fijian heritage. He is an experienced community engagement practitioner with a specific lens on the labour market and local economic development. Iani is a Ministerial appointee to the Human...
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Iani Nemani

(Muka Tangata)
(Toitū te Waiora)

Lealamanu’a Aiga Caroline Mareko MNZM

Lealamanu’a Aiga Caroline Mareko, MNZM, JP, FNZEI, is a New Zealand born Samoan who hails from the villages of Lalomanu, Avao, Mulifanua, Faleula and Vaiusu. She taught in Porirua primary schools...
Image of Lealamanu’a Aiga Caroline Mareko MNZM

Lealamanu’a Aiga Caroline Mareko MNZM

(Toitū te Waiora)
(Muka Tangata)

Antonia Lilii, Associate Director

Image of Antonia Lilii, Associate Director

Antonia Lilii, Associate Director

(Muka Tangata)
Waihanga Ara Rau

Chantelle Bailey