At Village Collective, engagement is about more than showing up it’s about creating safe, vibrant spaces where our Pasifika community can connect, share, and grow. Through talanoa sessions, school visits, health pop-ups, and cultural events, we meet people where they are, listen to their stories, and celebrate their strengths.
Guided by the principle of “Voices in Action”, we turn community insights into meaningful initiatives. whether through awareness campaigns, educational resources, or youth led efforts, ensuring our work reflects the values and aspirations of our people. This approach draws on Fa’afaletui, the Samoan practice of weaving together perspectives, so every voice contributes to solutions that uplift and create lasting impact of our communities.
Auckland Seventh-Day Adventist High School Community Day At ASDAH School in Mangere, we ran a stall as part of a career expo-style event alongside a range of other organisations. The event created a lively and welcoming environment where students could explore different services, opportunities, and pathways while connecting with groups in their community. Our stall stood out by combining fun, interaction, and education in a
Youth Week 2026: Young Voices Leading the Way Village Collective partnered with Papakura High School’s Kura Moana Pacific Council to celebrate Youth Week 2026 through a series of youth-led events that amplified the voices and talents of young people. Echoes of the Village provided a platform for young people to share songs, spoken word, and reflections on the issues that matter most to them, creating a space for authentic
Just SAYN Symposium 2026: Sharing Pacific Perspectives Village Collective was proud to contribute to the SAYN Symposium 2026, joining youth development leaders from across Aotearoa to explore the theme of ancestral intelligence. Tyson Pula represented Village Collective on the New Gen Panel, sharing reflections on how cultural knowledge and community values continue to shape effective youth work practice. Jordan Khan and Sisilia Fakalata also delivered
Thursday, 23 March 2023 – 11:21 Red Carpet Time Recently we held a red carpet event at Event Cinemas Manukau where we invited participants in Matua ma Talavou to come along and watch a short documentary of our journey to date. It was a highlight for many as they marvelled at seeing themselves on the big screen. It was great to have our partner in
Thursday, 2 October 2025 – 16:33 Matala Matala carries many beautiful meanings across the Pacific, in Tonga it speaks of blossoming, and in Samoa of opening. Flowers are gifts to the world, and so are we as Rainbow people. Like flowers, we grow, thrive, and flourish into the fullness of who we are. Through Rainbow Fale, Matala creates safe spaces in schools for Rainbow young
Thursday, 2 October 2025 – 16:56 Mafutaga Mafutaga is a word that carries the spirit of gathering, connection, and fellowship. It reflects the strength of coming together as one, to share stories, wisdom, laughter, and support. Just as woven strands form a strong mat, our Rainbow community weaves bonds of belonging through Mafutaga. This space is designed for Pasifika Rainbow young adults who left school
Thursday, 2 October 2025 – 17:05 Va’hine Lei was created to connect with the older generation of the Pasifika Rainbow community, offering a safe and affirming space to relax, share food, and engage in deep talanoa. The name Va’hine Lei carries deep meaning: Va speaks to keeping the sacred and respectful space between us as a group, Hine honors women and femininity across the moana, and Lei represents flowers, symbolizing our
Thursday, 2 October 2025 – 17:11 Matala Ball The ballroom scene and culture originated in New York in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s , where queer and trans Black and Latinx communities – excluded from mainstream pageants, created their own underground safe spaces to host ballroom competitions. In the early 2000’s, Aotearoa began to recognize this culture, and in 2013 the first official ballroom
Thursday, 2 October 2025 – 17:19 Lamepa Pathways Lamepa Pathways draws inspiration from the Samoan word Lamepa, meaning lamp or candlelight, symbolizing the light, love and acceptance brought to the many Pasifika journeys of families navigating the pathway of raising and supporting their Rainbow+ child or family member. In 2014, Village Collective released The Clearing Pathways booklet, providing a resource to support Pasifika families on their journey. Building on
Saturday, 4 October 2025 – 11:59 Zumba for Wellbeing – Moving, Learning, and Thriving Together Held at Alfriston College, 16 June 2025 On a chilly June evening, Village Collective teamed up with local legend and certified Zumba instructor, Jenniene Fleming, and Alfriston College to host a special event: Zumba Community Event. This vibrant night brought together whanau, students, and community members for a celebration of movement, health and
Monday, 6 October 2025 – 14:11 Matua ma Talavou: Strengthening Connections Across Generations May – June 2024. Village Collective, in partnership with Toa Pacific, proudly facilitated the Matua ma Talavou (MMT) program, a transformative initiative bringing together Pacific elders (matua) and young people (talavou). The program was designed to address loneliness, strengthen meaningful connections, and enhance health and wellbeing, while creating opportunities for intergenerational learning,
Tuesday, 7 October 2025 – 15:22 Talavou Village Leadership Group (TVLG) Empowering Pasifika Youth through Co-Design and Leadership The Talavou Village Leadership Group (TVLG) was established by Village Collective as a youth-led initiative created to amplify Pasifika youth voices, strengthen community leadership, and ensure that young people remain at the center of programs and decision-making that affect them. Born from a shared vision of empowering the next generation, TVLG was co-designed by
Mon, 08/09/2025 – 12:00 Nou Te Ao Careers Expo Held at Papakura Marae, 14 May 2025 On 14 May 2025, Papakura Marae hosted the Nou te Ao Careers Expo, a vibrant event designed to connect local rangatahi from Papakura such as Wesley College, Tipene/St Stephen’s, Rosehill, Alfriston, and more with a diverse range of career opportunities. This event was inclusive of all cultures, reflecting the Marae’s
Thu, 24/04/2025 – 12:00 From Workshops to Market Day: The Lumana’i Journey Part 2: Lumana’i Market Evening The Lumana’i Market Evening was buzzing with energy, laughter, and the unstoppable creativity of Pasifika youth. Families, friends, stakeholders, and curious community members stopping by from the street filled the space, turning it into a lively celebration of culture, kai, and enterprise. Business Spotlight: Our Amazing Entreprenuers The seven young
Sat, 16/11/2024 – 12:00 Talanoa Theatre – One Time Showcase of Youth Storytelling Held at Mangere Arts Centre, 16 November 2024 Talanoa Theatre was a special one-time play co-designed, created, and delivered by our youth. Young people from the Talavou Village Leadership Group (TVLG) dedicated weeks of their time to meet, practice, and refine the production, bringing creativity, commitment, and heart to every rehearsal. This
Explore our collection of community resources designed to support the wellbeing of Pasifika families and young people. From toolkits to guides and helpful information shared at our events, programs, this is your one-stop space to access everything we provide out in the community.
Mon, 22/09/2025 – 12:00 Protecting our Families: The Fa’amalu Fanau Kit Fa’amalu Fanau is a Pacific emergency preparedness program created to help families prepare, protect, and respond in times of crisis. “Fa’amalu” means shelter or umbrella, and “Fanau” means children. In Pasifika culture, the umbrella represents care and protection – just as a fale roof shelters the aiga (family), this resource is designed to safeguard our
At Village Collective, engagement is about more than showing up – it’s about creating safe, vibrant spaces where our Pasifika community can connect, share, and grow. From talanoa sessions and school visits to health pop-ups and cultural events, we meet people where they are. We listen to their stories, celebrate their strengths, and work together to create solutions that reflect our values and voices.
This approach draws on Fa’afaletui, a Samoan concept of weaving together perspectives to build understanding, as described in Tamasese et al. (1997), cited in the Health Quality & Safety Commission’s “Pacific Models for Engagement” (2023).
Saturday, 4 October 2025 – 11:59 Zumba for Wellbeing – Moving, Learning, and Thriving Together Held at Alfriston College, 16 June 2025 On a chilly June evening, Village Collective teamed up with local legend and certified Zumba instructor, Jenniene Fleming, and Alfriston
Thu, 05/02/2026 – 12:00 Acknowledging Foodstuffs North Island’s Ongoing Support for Our Community Foodstuffs North Island: Supporting Our Community, Strengthening Our Whānau At Village Collective, our mahi has always centred on uplifting our Pasifika communities with care, dignity, and connection.
Thursday, 2 October 2025 – 17:19 Lamepa Pathways Lamepa Pathways draws inspiration from the Samoan word Lamepa, meaning lamp or candlelight, symbolizing the light, love and acceptance brought to the many Pasifika journeys of families navigating the pathway of raising and supporting
Sat, 23/03/2024 – 12:00 ASB Polyfest ’24 – A Celebration of Alofa & Pasifika Pride Held at Manukau Sports Bowl, 20 – 23 March 2024 Village Collective had the exciting opportunity to attend Polyfest 2024, a vibrant celebration of Pacific culture and
Thursday, 2 October 2025 – 17:11 Matala Ball The ballroom scene and culture originated in New York in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s , where queer and trans Black and Latinx communities – excluded from mainstream pageants, created their
Thu, 02/10/2025 – 12:00 E Tipu e Rea Manurewa Wellness Expo – Growing & Flourishing Together Hosted by Manurewa Community Network, 02 October 2025, 10:00am – 2:00pm. Under the theme “E Tipu e Rea Manurewa” (To Grow and Flourish in
Thursday, 2 October 2025 – 17:05 Va’hine Lei was created to connect with the older generation of the Pasifika Rainbow community, offering a safe and affirming space to relax, share food, and engage in deep talanoa. The name Va’hine Lei
Fri, 16/05/2025 – 12:00 McAuley High School Health Expo – Empowering Young Women with Health Education Held at McAuley High School, 16 May 2025 Village Collective was honored to be part of the McAuley High School Health Expo, an event dedicated
Thursday, 2 October 2025 – 16:56 Mafutaga Mafutaga is a word that carries the spirit of gathering, connection, and fellowship. It reflects the strength of coming together as one, to share stories, wisdom, laughter, and support. Just as woven strands
Fri, 06/06/2025 – 12:00 Celebrating Gagana Samoa with University of Auckland Samoan Students Association (UASSA) Held at the University of Auckland Quad, 06 June 2025 In June 2025, Village Collective proudly partnered with the University of Auckland Samoan Students’ Association (UASSA) to
Our projects bring ideas to life and turn community aspirations into action. From innovative health campaigns to creating educational resources, every project is shaped by the voices of our people. Whether we’re developing toolkits for parents, running awareness campaigns, or supporting youth-led initiatives, each project is designed to inform, inspire, and create lasting impact for our Pasifika communities.
“Voices Into Action” reflects the Pasifika value of collective storytelling and participation, where every voice contributes to solutions that empower and uplift our communities.
Explore our collection of community resources designed to support the wellbeing of Pasifika families and young people. From toolkits to guides and helpful information shared at our events, programs, this is your one-stop space to access everything we provide out in the community.
Mon, 22/09/2025 – 12:00 Protecting our Families: The Fa’amalu Fanau Kit Fa’amalu Fanau is a Pacific emergency preparedness program created to help families prepare, protect, and respond in times of crisis. “Fa’amalu” means shelter or umbrella, and “Fanau” means children. In Pasifika culture, the umbrella represents care and protection – just as a fale roof shelters the aiga (family), this resource is designed to safeguard our loved ones, especially our children. This guide focuses on building an emergency preparedness kit for your household. Having the right supplies ready can make all the difference when unexpected events happen. The resource outlines what to pack, how to keep items safe and accessible, and tips for tailoring your kit to the needs of your family. Download the full Fa’amalu Fanau Emergency Preparedness Kits guide below to start preparing your family today.