Ma’u Fonua –‘A - Manu Fotu
Chairman (Akiheuho & TAASA)
Ma’u Fonua –‘A – Manu Fotu was born in Tonga and attended Tonga High School for 3 years before he emigrated with his family to New Zealand in 1980. After completing his high school years at Mt Albert Grammar School he attended the University of Otago where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Biochemistry and Microbiology before moving and living in England for 10 years. It was during his time in England that he graduated with a Diploma in Mental Health Nursing from the University of York.
He has worked in the mental health sector as a clinician for 10 years before assuming the role of General Manager for Vaka Tautua for 7 years. Vaka Tautua is a Pacific NGO that provides health and disability services to the Pacific Community. During this time he completed a postgraduate qualification in Health Management. Currently, Manu has taken up the challenge of managing the Suicide Prevention programme for both Waitemata and Auckland District Health Board. He is the chairperson of the Board of Trustee for Harbour Basketball Association and the current Chairman of Tonga Aotearoa Amateur Sports Association (TAASA), apart from being the Chairman for Akiheuho.
His sports career includes touring with the New Zealand University rugby league team to the student world cup which was held in England, 1989, then played for Tonga student team during 1993 student world cup held in Sydney. Upon returning to England he played professional for 5 seasons in both codes of rugby. Manu has brought in his wealth of leadership and management experiences to Akiheuho. He is a sport lover, which is clearly reflected through the performance of his children in sports. His children have been hired and contracted by overseas Sports Federations. Manu is truly an exceptional role model. He is married to Jenny and they have 5 children; Isaac, Gabriella, Daniel, Zinny and Jacob.
Manase Lua (Pakilau ‘o Aotearoa),BA,MA(Hon)
Secretary (Aotearoa Tongan Health Workers Association T/A Akiheuho)
Manase is currently the Disability and Pacific Workforce Manager for Te Pou o Te Whakaaro Nui, the national workforce centre for mental health, addictions and disability for New Zealand. He has worked in the public service of New Zealand for almost ten years at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and Ministry of Health. He has also served over ten years in the NGO sector primarily in the disability sector. Aside from his current role on the Executive for TAASA, he is also the Secretary General for the Tongan Caucus (Governance member) of the Pacific Leadership Forum. Manase also serves as a Board Member for Fonua Ola Pacific Social Services provider, Secretary for Akiheuho – Aotearoa Tongan Health Workers Association and Secretary of the New Zealand Tongan Rugby Football Association (Siutaka NZ).
Manase is active and very involved in a number of community groups. He is passionate about Tongan arts, culture, sports, history and music. Manase was officially bestowed with a matāpule title “Pakilau ‘o Aotearoa” by Lord Ma’afu Tukui’aulahi, the Paramount Chief (‘Ulu) of the Ha’a Havea clan and Vaini village in the Kingdom of Tonga. Manase is possibly the only full Tongan to wear the sacred Samoan markings or lagi malofie (traditional full body tattoo – ta tatau) on his body in centuries. Manase is fully enriched in knowledge and experience not limited to Public Service, NGO, Community Leadership, and a Cultural Aspiration to Akiheuho. Manase is married to Folola with four children namely; Siosifa, Alvina, Sela Mouna and Moses.
Dr Sione Vaka
Deputy Secretary
Sione was one of the three males that started male nursing in Tonga in 1993. Sione is currently lecturing at Massey University, School of Nursing, after completing his PhD exploring Pacific constructions of mental illness. Sione migrated to New Zealand in 1999 and worked at Counties Manukau DHB through different areas of mental health like Pacific mental health, early interventions, liaison psychiatry, acute mental health, crisis mental health and research.
He has been awarded with some research projects and scholarships and is now funded by Health Research Council of New Zealand to look at a mental health framework for Tongan people. He is also the Deputy Chair of Pacific Island Mental Health Professional Association. Sione is an active member in our community, and holds many community roles like President of Kalapu Kava Tonga Pauni Tolu ‘o e Toa ko Ma’afu. Sione is also a church minister with the Free Church of Tonga (Siaosi Tonga Tau’ataina).
Sione brings in his academic knowledge ,religious belief and research skills and experiences to ‘Akiheuho. Sione is married to Olaka’aina and they have a son, Ma’afu.
Launga Tasi Ahio
General/Operations Manager (Akiheuho & TAASA)
Tasi is employed by Akiheuho Management Committee(MC) to oversee and ensure daily operations are running smoothly. He reports directly to the Akiheuho Chairman and MC. Tasi is also the financial manager in charge of the finances and accounts of Akiheuho, managing Akiheuho staff and general administration. Amongst his responsibilities are drawing up Akiheuho contracts, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), forming partnerships between Akiheuho and other parties and agencies of which he adheres well to keeping the Chairman and MC updated.
His work experiences entail working as a Bank Administrator in the National Reserve Bank of Tonga, mainly supervising office operations and allied staff for 7 years then he was hired as an Office Manager for Australia High Commission in Nuku’alofa, running office operations for less than a year before migrating overseas. In New Zealand; he worked for Statistic NZ for 6 years as a Customer Service Representative carrying out surveys for a variety of projects .His most recent employment was with East Tamaki Healthcare before coming onboard to Akiheuho as a Health Consultant, Self Management Education(SME) leader, Master trainer for SME leaders, Care planner and Health coach for three years. Tasi is currently a member of Long Term condition(LTC) Cosumer Panel for all of NZ. This Panel has regular meetings throughout the year to discuss the health system from the health consumer’s perspective, and co-designs with Ministry of health a more updated health system for NZ.
Tasi’s involvement in the community includes forming up community health groups; like Anaumelie support group for Tongan people with Long Term Conditions, he’s an Executive Member on the Finance Committee for Free Weslyan Church of Tonga in NZ, an Executive Official member and Treasurer of Pacific Leadership Forum(PLF) and a live member of Fofo’anga Kava Club Aotearoa. His hobby includes faikava talanoa and playing the Ukulele in the faikava string band. Tasi offers Akiheuho an abundance in skills and experiences in Finance, Business Management, Office Management, Administration, and Community Engagement. Tasi holds an undergraduate and post graduate qualification in Business, Financial Management, Administration and Health related certificates. Tasi is married to Hone Ahio.
Tasi Ahio
Aotearoa Tongan Health Workers Assoc.
CEO (Akiheuho & TAASA)
P: +64 9 2766968 or Mobile: 021 0254 0250
8/400 Great South Road, Otahuhu
PO Box 22336, Otahuhu, Auckland1640, New Zealand