Throughout my life, my parents instilled in me the importance of serving my family and community, respecting our elders, and staying true to my values and culture. They understood the significance of home ownership and helped many families achieve their dreams of owning their own houses. With 34 years of experience in real estate, I continue to carry on this legacy today.

Rooted in my heritage, my father hails from Vaovai Falealili and Gatavai, while my mother comes from Safune and Iva in Savai'i. My mother played a pivotal role as a founding member of P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A., and from the age of 15, I had the privilege of learning from the remarkable women who helped establish this influential organization.

My priority is to serve our women and communities, empowering them to have a collective voice that paves the way for a brighter future for young Pacific women. It is our responsibility to honor the legacies our mothers fought diligently to create for us.

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.

Amy Salape Elaine Annandale-Stone is of Māori, Samoan and Tongan descent and is a member of Newtown, Vahine Orama Branch.

Amy’s grandmother Elaine Uluave was a founding member of P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc.

Amy is the current branch treasurer and serves as the National Assistant Treasurer for P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc.

She works for Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora as a Personal assistant to the Clinical Director and the Group Manager of the Intellectual Disability Service based in Kenepuru, Porirua.

My name is Lemelemalie Rasmussen, and I am honoured to serve as your National Youth Representative.

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I was born and raised in the heart of the Pacific, Samoa! My parents, Anthony and Leata Rasmussen, had a humble dream to raise my three siblings and me overseas, and through faith and hard work, they made that dream a reality. For the past 10 years, my family has been based in Dubai, and I’ve since moved to Aotearoa New Zealand to further my education.

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I’m currently in my fifth and final year at The University of Auckland, studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts conjoint. My passion for law stems from being a proud tamaitai Samoa, tautua is at the heart of everything I do.

It hasn’t been easy being away from my parents and siblings, but the sense of family and belonging I’ve found in P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A has truly helped me feel at home. In the image of our ancestors who came before us, I am dedicated to serve as they have served me, with strength, humility, and purpose. I strive to be a voice for our Pacific youth, honouring the legacy they left for us to continue.

Update to come from Mary Afemata

Update to come from Justine Taito-Matamua