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, 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