About Us
The Niuvaka journey started in August 2020, and is the coming together of prominent Pasifika innovators, both locally and from across Aotearoa, to cultivate a culture of positive change and transformation for Pasifika Communities.
Our Name
The name NIUVAKA is the result of intertwining two of the most valuable commodities in Pacific history.
Our Logo
Cyclic Border
The cyclic border has a chevron design around the outside of the circle that is a universal design across the pacific that represents the uniqueness of each Pasifika culture and our ability to come together in a space to be one but maintain our own uniqueness.
The boarder is representative of the migratory birds in an unending cycle depicting how our ancestors from the Pacific had been migrating and sailing. The space between the brown border and the inner circle reflects the space of respect and relationships.
Niu
The Niu (coconut) is one of the most valuable commodities of the pacific, the background behind the sails inside of the coconut can also be looked at as the horizon coming off the water.
Niuvaka Trust is the body of the vaka - navigating, exploring, researching and guiding development and interventions which are informed by Pacific notions of wellbeing and self-determination.
May Niuvaka be the "vaka of choice" that our people jump on to sail to their horizons.
Vaka
The vaka sails pictured in our logo depict the journey ahead, the future direction of Niuvaka and the aspirational futures for our Pasifika communities. They also represent the Pacific Ocean and the journey between the Pacific Islands and the voyage to Aotearoa.
One sail is darker than the other - it reflects the same purpose but also reflects diversity. We are from diverse cultures in the Pacific, but we share common values.
Tagata Pasifika, Tangata Whenua & Te Tiriti o Waitangi
Iwi-Māori and Pacific Peoples have many historical bonds and connections including genealogy, kinship, traditions, and beliefs, as well as navigating and traversing Te Moana nui o Kiva, the Pacific Ocean, upon vaka, all of which precedes Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
As a Pasifika organisation, Niuvaka affirms and celebrates the multitude of historic and current relationships it has with Iwi-Māori further to recognising Iwi-Māori as Tangata Whenua, the indigenous people of Aotearoa.
Niuvaka also acknowledges Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document that sets the contemporary context for Tagata Pasifika in present day Aotearoa-New Zealand, which correspondingly reflects a large percentage of Tagata Pasifika young people being of Tangata Whenua descent also.
Pasifika Diversity
Pacific Peoples or Tagata Pasifika are umbrella terms, among others, used to describe the multitude of island territories and nations across the South Pacific Ocean, yet each nation has its own uniqueness and distinctiveness, each with its own intricate and elaborate micro-culture.
As a Pasifika organisation, Niuvaka acknowledges the special nature of diverse Pasifika identities and recognises the multifaceted characteristics of Tagata Pasifika.
Meet the Niuvaka Board
Daniel IoseChair
Daniel Iose is the Chair of the Niuvaka Trust Board, an organisation dedicated to providing health, social service, education, training and employment support to Pasifika communities. With over 25 years of experience in Information Technology, Daniel brings valuable expertise to the Board's governance and executive leadership. He also serves as a Director on the Board of Manawatū Rugby Union. Driven by a focus on long-term growth and business value, Daniel is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and accountability in all his roles.
As Chair of Niuvaka Trust, Daniel plays a pivotal role in guiding the Trust's strategic vision, overseeing key governance initiatives, and collaborating closely with the executive leadership team to ensure the Trust's continued success in a dynamic environment. His leadership philosophy is rooted in collaboration, ethical decision-making, and a commitment to long-term sustainability.
Daniel is passionate about fostering diversity and inclusion within cultural contexts and believes in creating environments where all individuals are valued. He joined Niuvaka Trust in 2022, bringing with him a deep sense of responsibility to support Pasifika communities.
Born in Porirua and of Samoan descent, Daniel's late father, Semaoa Telu, was from Fasito'o uta, Samoa, while his late mother, Tiana, hailed from Pata Faleatai, Samoa. He is married to Sandra, and together they have two adult sons, Jackson and Brayden. Daniel feels privileged to be part of Niuvaka Trust's mission to empower Pasifika communities and help them achieve their aspirations.
Jenine ScoonDeputy Chair
Jenine is of Te Ipukarea and Samoan descent, born in Dunedin and raised in Te Papaieoa. Jenine has three grown sons and six mokopuna and is actively involved in the local Softball community holding the Chairperson's role for the past five years. Jenine currently works at Highbury Whānau Centre as a Team Lead for the Transition Service and has over 30 years experience working in the Public Service Sector. She is passionate about ensuring that our Polynesian peoples have all the opportunities available to them to succeed in their lives, and homelife to support the sustainabilty of the work that Niuvaka can offer to our beautiful communities.
E toru oire roto toku iwi — Ko Titikaveka, Ngatangiia, e Matavera
Te ingoa kapiti no te oire ko Takitumu, ko Irirangi te Maunga, e ko Avana te Ava
Toku pirianga ia Aitutaki e Mangaia, Te Ipukarea (Kuki Airani)
"Te maata i taau ka Oranga ko te Maata rai ia i taau ka rauka"
"The more you give the more you receive."
Meitaki Ma'ata
Suliasi VunibolaFounding Board Member
Dr Suli Vunibola is of Fijian descent and is one of the founding members of Niuvaka Trust.
He is a transdisciplinary scholar and a Climate Research Fellow at Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury and adjunct with the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research. Suli's research interests broadly lie in the interdisciplinary areas of development studies, human geography, ethnography, ethno-ecology, climate crisis, and community production.
The core of some of his research is around indigenous knowledge systems, community indigenous innovation, alternative and pluriverse development, community-driven development, and social transformation in the Pacific. Suli's doctoral research explored indigenous alternative economic development on customary land in the Pacific through decolonised indigenous methodologies.
His interests also include developing cohesion between Pasifika community providers and research, and he also co-developed the new Pacific Studies courses at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, in 2024.
Tawhiti KunaitiTangata Whenua Representative
Tawhiti is of Raukawa, Ngāti Mango, Ngai Tara, Rangitāne, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ruapani, Rongomaiwahine, Te Āti Hau, Ngāti Matakore descent and is the Tangata Whenua representative having joined the Niuvaka Trust Board in 2023.
He has been in several key leadership roles with Te Tihi o Ruahine Whānau Ora Alliance, New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists and Te Papa Tongarewa, the Museum of Aotearoa-New Zealand. Tawhiti was an appointed member of the Manawhenua Iwi Relationship Board to the MidCentral District Health Board (MDHB) Healthy Communities Advisory Committee & MDHB Disability Support Advisory Committee. Tawhiti is a Registered Graduate in Frontline Management, New Zealand Institute of Management, a Bursar Recipient of Te Rau Puawai Māori Mental Health Development studying Psychology through Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa and has a background in the education sector, specifically within total immersion Māori language settings. Tawhiti has given extensive contributions to the health sector and the Whānau Ora movement including as Co-Project Lead for the establishment of Te Awahou Community Health Service in Foxton.
He was a key Leader for the Ngāti Whakatere and Te Awahou Waitangi Claims Hearings and is the current Chair of Ngāti Whakatere Māori Land Trust, as well as a member of Te Whare Makatea, Ngāti Raukawa School of Traditional Māori Lore from 2018-2023. Tawhiti is passionate about supporting the advancement of Whānau Ora and extends this support to Pacific communities through his role on the Niuvaka Trust Board.
Meet Our Team
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Our Partners
We partner and collaborate with many organisations, agencies and services who support Pasifika communities to achieve better outcomes.
Work With Us
Niuvaka Trust has a vision for Tagata Pasifika to be Thriving, Flourishing and Resilient. We work with Tagata Pasifika, Pasifika families & Pasifika communities for the realisation of their aspirations and do this through partnering to build capacity & capability of Pasifika communities. We aim to achieve our Vision through the delivery of our health, social, training & employment services as well as our community-led projects & initiatives.
Join the Niuvaka Trust team to be an important part of making a real difference for Pasifika communities that we serve. We are a small team of 13 dedicated and friendly staff, in an organisation that is growing and developing. The environment is lively and perfect for someone who is passionate about advancing aspirations for Tagata Pasifika. Niuvaka Trust is a Not-for-Profit Pasifika Charitable Trust based in Palmerston North covering the MidCentral region providing opportunities to Pasifika communities and connecting Tagata Pasifika to support services for the best possible outcomes. Niuvaka Trust has a holistic approach to our work, this is reflected in the services we provide with and for Pasifika communities.