Pakilau Manase Lua

Personal Motto: “I am the Master of my fate… I am the Captain of my soul…”

Manase was born in the Kingdom of Tonga but migrated with his parents to New Zealand in 1975 as a child of the “dawn raids”. He wears many hats in the community and is a Matãpule (traditional herald or talking chief) with the title “Pakilau o Aotearoa” or just “Pakilau”. He serves as a protector and cultural custodian for his Chief Lord Ma’afu and the village of Vaini on the main island of Tongatapu. He is married to his wife Folola and they have four children Siosifa, Alvina, Sela Mounu and Moses.

Manase studied history, sociology and post-colonial literature at Auckland University and has a Masters in English. He has worked for the Government of New Zealand for ten years at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs 1996-2001 and at the Ministry of Health in the Disability Services Directorate from 2002-2008. He has also worked in the NGO sector now for almost twenty years and was a member of the original team led by Dr Monique Faleafa who founded and established Le Va. He is the RInga Huti Punga – Pacific Equity Lead in the office of the CE of the WISE Group, of which Le Va is one of 12 partner entities.

Manase also supports and advises the CE’s and teams at Te Pou and Le Va with their extensive programmes. He is especially focused on the Pacific regional networks and international initiatives being established by Le Va. This includes the Pacific Behavioural Health Collaborating Council (PBHCC) of the US Administered Pacific Territories via Global Leadership Exchange (GLE). Manase is a member of the Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) and the Pacific Medical Association (PMA).