A welcome return for Pakilau o Aotearoa

2025 has brought the welcome return of Pakilau Manase Lua to his kainga at Le Va. Joining the team one day a week to advise on cultural matters and support Le Va’s initiatives across Aotearoa, the wider Pacific and the globe, Manase has slotted seamlessly back into the fold.

Le Va’s chief executive, Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave, said, “It is with immense gratitude that we welcome one of Le Va’s founding members back into the organisation to share his valuable knowledge, insights and experience with the team.”

Below, Manase shares about his background, his current roles, and the changes he has seen since his earlier days at Le Va.

Talitali fiefia, haere mai, afio mai, welcome home Pakilau!

“Fasi pē sila pea tuku ki Manono. Broken sails are best mended in Manono.”

“I was born in Tonga and hail from the village of Vaini (Mum) where I am a Matãpule (talking chief) for my Chief Lord Ma’afu, and from the island of Ha’afeva (Dad). We migrated here in the 70’s and I am a child of the dawn raids.

As the proverb above suggests, we have long and deep connections to the Moana as Tongans. So, I can also trace my ancestral connections to Fiji, Samoa and Uvea.

I have worked in Government for ten years at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs and Ministry of Health. I have now also worked in the NGO space for almost twenty.

I am the Pacific Equity Lead for the WISE Group and support the CE and team at Le Va with their extensive programmes especially the Pacific regional networks and international initiatives.

This includes the Pacific Behavioral Health Collaborating Council (PBHCC) of the US Administered Pacific Territories via the Global Leadership Exchange (GLE).

I worked at Le Va from 2008 to 2012, then a small team of three with Talita Fitikefu and led by Dr Monique Faleafa.

It is amazing to see the growth of the team at Le Va, and the awesome talent we have on board to do the scope and breadth of the work.

So, after managing the disability programme at Te Pou for twelve years through stormy seas, especially last year, it’s so good to metaphorically find “Manono” to mend my sails for the challenges ahead. I’m up for it!”