Vaka Tautua formally opened its first office in Dunedin this week, welcoming local Pacific community leaders and partners to celebrate the significant milestone. The new Otago team is poised to provide financial capability, community connector and disability services to Pacific peoples in the region.

Elder abuse is an issue that affects roughly one in ten seniors in Aotearoa, including many Pacific older people. To mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day this June 15, Vaka Tautua’s Aiga Fiafia Social Services team raised awareness in the community about what signs to look out for and how to seek help.

Vaka Tautua has rolled out its award-winning financial capability programme – Tupe Wise – to a rapidly growing number of cohorts around the country this year. Otago is the latest region to benefit from the programme, which seeks to increase the financial literacy and knowledge of Pacific families in Aotearoa New Zealand.

As a proudly Pacific organisation, Vaka Tautua recognises the importance of Pacific languages and cultures to the work we do in the community. To promote language as a cornerstone of the wellbeing of Pacific peoples, our teams celebrated Le Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa (Samoa Language Week) and 60 years of independence for the nation.

Advice from Vaka Tautua’s Disability Information Advisory Services team has helped a Tongan family reconnect to their community through access to better transport. A successful application for financial assistance enabled them to purchase a vehicle, transforming their lives for the better.

Vaka Tautua, in collaboration with Pacific Homecare, yesterday held its first Matua Ola Manuia Market Day since December 2020. After a long wait due to the pandemic, four Pacific groups for older people came together to showcase their vibrant cultures and handicrafts in the highly successful event.

Vaka Tautua’s Disability Information Advisory Services team promotes wellbeing for carers, to help them look after their loved ones living with a disability. So, when Paki Vaipapalangi reached out for advice, the team provided information in his Tongan language to help the family thrive.

Vaka Tautua's Board of Directors announced the appointment of a dynamic new Chief Executive Officer for the organisation this week. Moananu Anna Redican Kolose, currently Pacific Equity Programme Director for the Auckland District Health Board, will step into the role from 4 May.

Vaka Tautua’s executive leadership team has spent the last two weeks connecting and engaging with key regional partners in Wellington and Canterbury. Chief Executive Officer Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop thanked stakeholders for their support during her tenure and beyond, as she approaches the end of her journey with the organisation.

Porirua resident John Mu isn’t letting his disability slow him down. Armed with information and advice from Vaka Tautua’s Disability Information Advisory Services team in Wellington, he is racing along his journey towards increased mobility and wellbeing.

It is with sadness that Vaka Tautua announces Chief Executive Officer, Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop, is stepping down on 1 April 2022, after almost three years at the helm of the national Pacific health, disability and social services provider.

With the Omicron variant of COVID-19 rapidly spreading around New Zealand this February and March, Pacific communities have been particularly hard hit. Vaka Tautua is supporting many Pacific families in self-isolation with household cases of COVID-19.

Vaka Tautua is expanding its services into the Otago region in April 2022 to support the growing Pacific population in the region. Initially, the organisation will deliver disability and financial capability services, with a view to offering more services in the near future.

Vaka Tautua’s Community Connector Service in Wellington has helped 243 Pacific people during the pandemic. The team recently supported Samoeleoi Moetu to regain his mobility and independence, giving him a new lease on life.

Vaka Tautua responded to 4,947 disability-related enquiries across Aotearoa in 2021. The organisation also distributed 973 PPE packs and more than 150 wellbeing packages to 623 Pacific disabled people and their families as part of its national COVID-19 outreach service.

In 2022, Vaka Tautua has established the new role of National Manager Operations. Pania Schwenke has come on board to lead the organisation’s operational services teams, in line with the strategic direction set by our Board of Directors.

Alofa Leilua was able to overcome ongoing mental health challenges to become a thriving tertiary student, with help from Vaka Tautua’s Community Support Services in West Auckland.

In 2021, Miriam Terei-Roriki left Rarotonga for urgent medical treatment in Aotearoa. Vaka Tautua supported Miriam and her family to adjust to their new life, and learn to thrive with help from our Parenting and Tupe Wise Programmes.