Manu hails from the villages of Ma’ufanga, Nuku’alofa and Neiafu, Vava’u in Tonga. She and her parents migrated to New Zealand where they lived in Kingsland before they settled on Auckland’s North Shore.

What led you to working at The Cause Collective?

Change – looking for a new direction and wanting to do more for Pacific communities.

Who inspires you and why?

My parents inspire me. They have always set the example of service, to have a heart that serves.  I’ve never forgotten the many sacrifices they made migrating to New Zealand and navigating the barriers Pacific people face in a new country.  Because of their own lived experience they have helped many others in the same position.  They are my inspiration and what keeps me grounded.

What is your current role?

Project Administrator for the Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu family violence prevention initiative.  I love the work we do in offering a cultural approach to address family violence in our Pacific Communities.  The best part about the job are the connections made through our training programmes and hearing the talanoa in this space.  The more we talk about these sensitive issues – the more aware we are of it, for it’s the silence that allows violence to become rampant.

What is your vision for health and wellbeing in South Auckland?

That families are thriving and wanting to do better for themselves.