9 Pasifika Wāhine Highlighted in Y25 2025 Cohort
Aalyana Teata Partsch
Hauora Advocate, Entrepreneur & Māmā
Aalyana is an entrepreneur and advocate for cultural connection, community empowerment, and indigenous wellbeing. As a daughter, wife, māmā, friend, and leader, Aalyana continues to weave her values of faith, honesty, aroha, and kaitiakitanga into every part of her life. This passionate trailblazer’s whakapapa connects her to the beautiful islands of Sāmoa and Tahiti.
She seeks opportunities to deepen her connection to her own cultural roots while embracing the wisdom of other indigenous traditions, believing that shared knowledge can help us heal, thrive and connect. As the founder of I Mahi Ora, Aalyana is leading a transformative initiative that reimagines health and wellbeing for Māori and Pasifika young adults through indigenous frameworks. Her vision is to positively influence health statistics by creating resources that are culturally inclusive and accessible.
She believes in working towards solutions that can transform lives and communities. Aalyana has navigated many personal and family health challenges with resilience and mana. She recognises the systemic disparities in Māori and Pasifika health outcomes and is inspired by those around her and her ancestors. Aalyana’s journey through personal and health challenges has shaped her mission to uplift others through culturally grounded, inclusive solutions.
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Ashley Vaotuua
Pasifika & Community Champion
Ashley is a young tamaitai Samoa from South Auckland, deeply passionate about her communities. Hailing from Afega, Matatufu, Fasitootai, and Vailuutai in Samoa, and raised in Ōtara, Ashley is a storyteller and world-builder. Her passion lies in sharing the histories, experiences and stories from within her communities, with a particular focus on the experiences of Samoan women.
With a Masters in Pacific Studies from Waipapa Taumata Rau / University of Auckland, Ashley’s exploration of Indigenous knowledge, epistemologies and experiences allows her to help communities reconnect with their cultures, knowledge and histories. She brings this to life through delivering Siva Samoa community workshops — an important part of knowledge sharing and a natural extension of her passion for culture, community, and storytelling.
Ashley believes our strength lies within whakapapa, a foundation that can never be shaken by any system, structure, or power. With experience as a journalist and now working within our South Auckland communities, Ashley embodies the Samoan proverb, ‘E au le Inailau a Tamaitai Samoa,’ which tells us that a Samoan woman’s strength allows our people to unlock their potential.
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Buua Redfern
Rangatahi & Community Changemaker
Buua is a trailblazing advocate for Pacific youth, igniting opportunities and amplifying voices. As an I-Kiribati changemaker, she spearheads nationwide initiatives in youth leadership, climate change, governance, and financial empowerment. Through Ara Maneaba & Rotin Manukau Youth she tackled a major hurdle by providing free programs across Aotearoa for Kiribati youth with limited access to driver’s licences, unlocking employment and education doors.
Buua's also led mental health workshops for I-Kiribati families, creating a safe space for young people and parents to exchange anonymous letters about their struggles, fostering healing and honest conversations. Her mission to break cycles of hardship and foster collective growth is deeply rooted in her experiences within Pacific communities and inspired by her mother's unwavering love and resilience.
She brings this passion into her role as Events Lead for Multiethnic Young Leaders NZ, where she curates meaningful spaces that celebrate cultural diversity, and empower rangatahi to connect, grow, and lead. Driven by the whakataukī, ‘E tū ki te kei o te waka, kia pakia koe e ngā ngaru o te wā.’ Buua’s work is a powerful reminder that community collaboration drives real change. By standing in the gaps and believing in people's potential, Buua’s an unstoppable force for good.
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Ceilidh Brown
Indigenous & Rainbow Trailblazer
Ceilidh is a proud Niuean academic with a deep passion for Indigenous knowledge and history. She is committed to uncovering and sharing Niuean history through a Niuean lens, aiming to revitalise cultural narratives and ensure future generations take pride in their heritage and language. Her academic work is closely tied to her whakapapa, grounding her identity and fuelling her advocacy and passion for Indigenous communities.
As a queer Pasifika person, Ceilidh has navigated the intersectionality of being both queer and Niuean, which motivates her dedication to creating inclusive, supportive spaces. Her parents instilled in her the importance of serving and supporting the community; values she channels into her work today. In her role as Pasifika Programme Coordinator for Rainbow Hub Waikato, Ceilidh helped establish one of the first Pasifika MVPFAFF+ Rainbow spaces in the Waikato, providing an important visible and empowering space for queer Pasifika individuals.
Through her work, she ensures that people can embrace their identities without compromise and embody the dreams of their ancestors. Ceilidh’s passion for both her Niuean and queer communities, alongside her dedication to academia, drives her to create spaces where these identities are celebrated, valued, and nurtured.
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Ivy Lyden-Hancy
Storyteller, Poet & Indigenous Advocate
Ivy (Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wairere, Samoa – Falefā, Tonga – Vava’u) is a proud wahine Māori creative, leader, and advocate from Papakura, South Auckland. Deeply committed to the rights and wellbeing of Māori and Pasifika communities, Ivy uses both her mahi and her spoken word poetry to uplift and empower others. She currently works as a cultural practitioner at Te Whare Hinatore, supporting wāhine experiencing housing insecurity through mentorship and holistic guidance.
With experience at Talavou Village assisting Māori and Pasifika in accessing health care, and as a member of YAAG under Village Collective, Ivy’s community involvement is grounded in lived experience and heart-led service. She was also a Board of Trustees representative, Dux, and top Māori student at her high school.
The first in her whānau to attend university, Ivy is a recipient of the First Foundation Scholarship, which supports tauira into tertiary study. This talented storyteller is studying a BA in History and Māori Media at Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau, AUT. Her journey has not been without challenges, but they’ve shaped her into a powerful advocate for indigenous equity. Ivy shares her truth through spoken word, founding a poetry club to encourage others to do the same. She aspires to become a lecturer and filmmaker, continuing to tell stories that matter.
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Ellathea Tia Fleming
Māmā, Indigenous & Community Changemaker
Tia (Ngāti Apa, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa; Vailoa Aleipata, Fasito'o Uta, Moata'a, Manono Tai, Sapapali'i, Falelima – Savai’i) is a 22-year-old māmā, student, and community leader. She is currently studying at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka / The University of Otago while raising her tama, who has been a powerful inspiration in her journey of growth, leadership, and service.
Becoming a mother at 18 deepened Tia’s drive to create positive change and build a nurturing village for her whānau and wider community. She’s actively engaged in a range of kaupapa including The Hive, Talavou Village, and university-based networks. She has served as Te Aka Mātauraka (Academic Officer) for the Otago Māori Humanities Students' Association, Vice-President of the Otago Cook Islands Students' Association, and is a Komiti member for Te Manaaki o Tamariki Kōhanga Reo.
With passions spanning rugby, cultural arts, and her faith, Tia centres her mahi on uplifting others. She is committed to building spaces of belonging, resilience, and empowerment, demonstrating through her leadership and example the strength of young wāhine Māori and Pasifika in action.
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Katie-Rose Ruana Pemberton
Neurodiversity Advocate & Actor
Katie-Rose is a proud 19-year-old wahine, half-Samoan and half-Pākeha, born and raised in South Auckland. She is an emerging advocate for neurodiversity, gender equity, and cultural inclusion in Aotearoa. A founding member of the Young Neurodiversity Champions (YNC), Katie-Rose took her voice straight to Parliament, contributing to white papers, campaigns like Unlocking the Enormous Potential of Neurodiverse Learners, and the Neurodiversity in Education Coalition Project, impacting over 500 families nationwide.
Currently in her second year at Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland studying Environmental Science and Psychology, Katie-Rose blends academic knowledge with lived experience to champion systemic change. Her advocacy has earned her national recognition, including Young East Aucklander of the Year (2023), Zonta’s Young Woman in Public Affairs Award (2023), and features in the Education Gazette, podcasts, and exhibitions like Tales of Our Wāhine.
Katie-Rose also channels her activism through the performing arts. She starred in Hine Te Rēhia with Tuatara Collective, exploring identity, women's autonomy, and environmental justice. With courage, creativity, and talent, this multifaceted trailblazer continues to inspire and uplift rangatahi, using every platform to create meaningful and real impact in her community and beyond.
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Mary Ieremia-Allan
Environmental/Pasifika Advocate, Academic Governance & Fashion Designer
Mary is a trailblazing activist working at the intersection of environmental justice, Pacific knowledge systems, creative practice, and intergenerational engagement. Currently studying Fashion/Textile Design, she grounds her work in the beautiful paradox of Jesus' justice and grace, the wisdom of her ancestral communities, and those who have woven her in from: Sapapalii, Aleipata, Falealili, Isle of Raasay Pietermaritzburg and more.
At Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa | Massey University, she champions cultural revitalisation and creative arts, while serving as a UNESCO youth representative connecting global science and cultural priorities to Aotearoa /Pacific. Mary has led World Vision campaigns on climate justice/global food insecurity, initiated council chamber debates and cultural competency programmes with local governments. She sits on university academic boards advocating for reformed tertiary curriculums, Pacific ancestral knowledge, and contributes to research projects. Mary recently campaigned and executed a parliamentary conference, connecting pioneering Pasifika leaders with young people.
Her story is rooted in resilience: from funding her passions at 13 with part time jobs, to leading the NZ Open Women’s Touch Rugby Team, to having her music performed by NZSO members. This changemaker isn’t driven by accolades, but by a commitment to celebrating individual gifts and our urgent, collective responsibility.
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Tupou Neiufi
Paralympic Sports & Mental Health Champion
Tupou is a trailblazing NZ Tongan Paralympic swimmer, showcasing the strength and resilience that define Pacific cultures. Born in Māngere East, Tāmaki Makaurau, Tupou was in a life-altering accident at age two, which left her with left-sided hemiplegia. However, she found her strength in swimming, which became more than just a sport, it was her path to self-expression and success.
As a young Pacific woman, Tupou proudly represents her Tongan heritage on the international stage. In an interview, she expressed pride in sharing her culture, saying, ‘It’s cool getting to travel the world and be able to share my culture and put us on the world stage.’ Tupou is passionate about inspiring others, especially in underrepresented communities. Her experiences with her own self-doubt have fuelled her advocacy for mental health and self-acceptance, encouraging others to embrace their uniqueness and push past limitations.
She emphasises the importance of being true to oneself and believing in yourself. This multitalented champion’s achievements are a testament to her unwavering dedication. She has won prestigious medals, including a gold at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics and silver at the 2019 World Para Swimming Championships. Tupou is really all that, in such a fierce and humble way.