The valuable lessons my parents instilled in me were to serve my family and community, honour our elders, and remain faithful to my values and culture. These principles have guided me throughout my 35-year career in real estate, making it both successful and fulfilling.

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My father hails from Falealili and Gatavai, while my mother comes from the villages of Safune and Iva in Savai'i.

My mother was a founding member of P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A. From age 15, I was fortunate to be surrounded by strong, visionary women who laid the foundation for this incredible organization.

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Supporting women and uplifting our communities remains my priority, ensuring Pacific women have a united voice to create opportunities and pave the way for a stronger future.

Our responsibility is to carry forward the legacies our mothers built with dedication and sacrifice.

Update to come from Lila Taulapiu

Mele (Malie, Lefaga, Vaiala) has  been an active member of P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A. Inc. for over 20 years. 

She has over 25 years of governance experience and 17 years of senior executive/leadership experience. In 2019, Mele became a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to governance, the Pacific community and women. In 2022, she won the Not-For-Profit Governance Leader Award at the Women in Governance Awards. 

In governance Mele currently chairs Wellington Community Fund, and is a board member of ANZ Bank (Samoa) Ltd, Real Estate Authority, Tu Ora Compass Health, Tāwhiri: Festivals and Experiences, Tokelau International Trust Fund, and The Helen Clark Foundation. She and past-PACIFICA National President, Caren Rangi, ONZM, are experienced governance facilitators and run their Good Governance with a Pacific Lens courses (www.ggwapl.nz) throughout New Zealand.

Mele is a consultant with expertise in governance, leadership, Pacific peoples’ development, diversity strategies, scholarships, and organisational capacity building. She also does a lot of public speaking, and mentoring of younger women. She is also a White Ribbon Ambassador – one of only a dozen women out of 120+ Ambassadors. Mele and husband Ete speak publicly about their past lived experience of family violence. She is also a proud mother, grandmother and Wellingtonian.

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Ashalyna is a New Zealand born Samoan (Safotu, Fasito‘outa, Lepa, Apia – Savalalo, Vaoala) based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. She is a Pacific education advocate, researcher, community volunteer, and she is proud to serve the Southern Region in this role.

Ashalyna has been a P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A. Inc member since 2011. During this time, she has served in leadership roles within Christchurch branch, such as President, Secretary, and Treasurer. She previously served on the National Executive as National Assistant Treasurer from 2017 – 2019.  

With 17 years’ experience working in tertiary education, Ashalyna is currently a Pacific Academic Lead at the University of Canterbury. She completed her Doctor of Philosophy in 2022 on China and New Zealand’s foreign aid in the Pacific and Samoan stakeholder perceptions. Following her studies, she co-founded ‘The 03: Talanoa on Asia’ to amplify stories of Pacific peoples’ and their connections with Asia.

Ashalyna’s aiga plays a pivotal role in who she is and the motivation behind her work. She enjoys quality time with family and friends, travel, being in nature, watching Korean dramas, and giving back to the community. 

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Marie Schmidt's ethnicity is Samoan and Tongan. She is a proud member of the PACIFICA Aro’a Tunoa Porirua Branch (established on 28 May 2024).  Marie has held former positions of Secretary for the Whitireia Branch in Porirua; Recruitment Officer in West Auckland Branch and for the National Executive - National Communications Officer (2017), Assistant National Treasurer (2020) and National Treasurer (2021-2023) and Special Projects Coordinator (2023-2025).
 
Marie is on the steering group for the Government Women’s Network (GWN), co-opted to the National Council of Women NZ (NCWNZ), Board member for the New Horizons for Women Trust:  Hine Kahukura and has been a komiti member for the Porirua Pasifika Community Patrol since 2018. Marie worked for the Ministry of Social Development for 34 years and in February 2023 accepted an offer to work for the Ministry of Housing, Urban and Development (HUD) as a Principal Advisor Governance. 

Her outside interests are staring at her idle motorbike and E-bike (lol), swimming and supporting her favourite rugby team, THE BLUES.
 
Marie lives in Porirua with her daughter Tyla and three mokos.

Fabie is the daughter of the late Auva’a and the late Fara Masoe.

She is from the villages of Asau, Safune, Salelologa, Sa’anapu and Alafua (Samoa), has four beautiful sisters and is an aunty to nine handsome nephews.

Fabie is currently based in Wellington and a part of the Wellington Central Branch, and has been a PACIFICA member since 2015.

Fabie is the Senior Pasifika Engagement Adviser in the Pasifika Student Success team at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, is the Director for an amazing charity for at-risk children (ages 7-11) under Kids Camps New Zealand (Wellington), and also sits on the board for her 10am congregation at Wesley Church, Taranaki Street.

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Louise is of Tongan and NZ European descent, and was born and raised in Poneke (Wellington). Her mother is from Tu'anekivale, Vava'u in Tonga, and her father is from the Hutt Valley in Wellington, with English and Irish ancestry. She has one brother and an adopted sister (from her mother's side).

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She is an executive member of the Newtown Vahine Orama branch in Wellington, and also a community group called Makatu'unga he 'Ofa Tongan Community Wellington Incorporated. She also supports other community groups/individuals in various capacities, including finance, government initiatives, health and wellbeing, and mentorship.

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Louise is a qualified accountant and has worked in Finance for about 20 years, both in NZ and the UK. She is a member of the Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA), holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCA), and also a Masters of Professional Accountancy (MSc).

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Louise is a proud aunt of two and she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling and helping others. She loves the sisterhood and fellowship of PACIFICA, and the opportunities created to support and uplift Pacific women and families in Aotearoa.

Update to come from Amy Annandale-Stone

Update to come from Lemelemalia Rasmussen

Update to come from Mary Afemata

Update to come from Justine Taito-Matamua