OUR MANAGEMENT TEAM

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 ‘Ākiheuho.

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 ‘Ākiheuho. 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 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 ‘Ākiheuho – 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 ‘Ākiheuho. Manase is married to Folola with four children namely; Siosifa, Alvina, Sela Mouna and Moses.

Sione was one of the three males  that started male nursing in Tonga in 1993. After completing his PhD exploring Pacific constructions of mental illness, Sione has been a Senior Lecturer at Manukau Insitute of Technology – Pacific Health and Wellness (2008-2013), Senior Lecturer at Massey University – School of  Nursing; College of Health, Senior Lecturer at Auckland University of Technology, and is currently an Associate Professor at Waikato University. 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 also one of the four Commissioners of Pacific Mental Health established by the Pacific Medical Associations.  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 ‘‘Ākiheuho. Sione is married to Olaka’aina and they have a son, Ma’afu.

Makahokovalu is an executive member of the ATHWA Board of Trustees and is also contracted by the Board to oversee and ensure daily operations are running smoothly. He reports directly to the ATHWA Chairman. He is also the Financial Manager in charge of the finances and accounts of ‘‘Ākiheuho, and managing ‘‘Ākiheuho staff. Amongst his responsibilities are drawing up  ‘‘Ākiheuho contracts, Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), forming partnerships between ‘‘Ākiheuho and other parties and agencies of which he adheres well to keeping the Chairman and the Board updated.

His work experiences ranges from High School teaching at senior high school level.  He then moved to the ANZ Banking Group working in housing and commercial lending.  From banking, he joined the public accounting services having worked for two accounting firms in Tonga.

Maka returned to NZ in 1997 and work as a CEO in the Motor Vehicle Dealership industries for a number of years.  After 6 years at the leadership role, Maka returned to AUT to complete an MBA in Operations Management and International Business.  He joined Transdev as a Service Delivery Manager managing the Auckland Metro Passenger Rail.

Maka’s involvement in the community includes the ‘Inasi Inc., the Tongan Community COVID-19 Response Group (TCCRG) to promote the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, the Aotearoa Tonga Relief Committee (ATRC) that initiated and carried out the national (in NZ) relief work for Tonga after the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and the tsunami that followed.

Makahokovalu Pailate | Chief Executive Officer – Aotearoa Tongan Health Workers Association | P: +64 9 2766968 or Mobile:  022 353 9865 | E: maka@athwa.org.nz | 25 Princes Street, Otahuhu, PO Box 22336, Otahuhu, Auckland1640, New Zealand