Lalaga speaks to Pacific strength weaving together – our stories, our struggles, our faith, our unions, and our communities.
Our Biennial Fono brings together union delegates, workers, whānau, aiga, church leaders, and community leaders from across Aotearoa to stand together against low pay, insecure work, racism, and the high cost-of-living crisis. In an election year, Lalaga is also a call to tula’i mai – to stand strong, speak up, and act collectively. Change will not come from one voice alone; it comes when we weave together our strength, our knowledge, our votes and our voices into a shared movement for fair work, dignity, respect and thriving Pacific families and communities. Grounded in our history of resistance and resilience, from the dawn raids to the daily collective organising of our workers from caregivers, nurses, cleaners, bus drivers, carers, and educators and so many more this Fono is about collective action. We are built for this! To organise, to advocate, to vote, we will shape an Aotearoa where Pacific workers and communities can flourish.
17 – 18 July 2026
Holiday Inn, Mangere, Auckland
Day 1
| 8:30am | Registration opens | |
| 9:15am | Devotions Rev. Linda-Teleo Hope will open the Fono with a spiritual reflection on Lalaga – Weaving our strength… Built for this!, grounding delegates in Pacific faith, unity and courage, and offering ongoing spiritual support as we weave our stories, struggles and unions into collective action for thriving Pacific families. | Rev. Linda Hope |
| 9:25am | Welcome | Lealamanu’a Niuafolau Aiga Caroline Mareko & Nia Bartley |
| 9:35am | Opening Address Melissa Ansell-Bridges is the Secretary of the New Zealand council of Trade Union Te Kauae Kaimahi. She joins the conference to give an update on the work programme of the CTU and key strategies of the CTU and its affiliated unions including Reimagining Aotearoa Together and the 2026 Election Campaign. | Melissa Ansell -Bridges |
| 10:15am | Pacific Leadership -An Historical Context Sailauama Cheryl will present “Pacific Leadership – An Historical Context”, tracing the journey of the CTU Komiti Pasefika Sector Council and the Pacific leaders who have shaped it over time. Her session will honour those who have passed and those still leading, showing how Pacific perspectives and cultural values have transformed the union movement for Pasifika workers. Cheryl will highlight key moments where Komiti Pasefika has given voice to issues that matter for our families and communities, and how Pacific leadership continues to weave justice, dignity and collective strength into organising, bargaining and advocacy across Aotearoa. | Sailauama Cheryl Talamaivao |
| 10:40am | Morning Tea | |
| 11:00am | Pacific Pay Gap and Employment Law updates Lisa Meto Fox will lead a workshop on “Pacific Pay Gap and Employment Law Updates”, drawing on her work as an employment advocate and equity strategist. She will unpack the latest data and legal changes affecting Pacific workers, explain how pay gaps show up in everyday workplaces, and outline practical steps delegates can take through unions, bargaining and advocacy. Lisa will also highlight recent employment law developments, what they mean for job security, fair treatment and workplace justice, and how Pacific workers can use these tools to challenge discrimination and underpayment so our families and communities can thrive. | Lisa Meto |
| 11:45am | Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) Workers Robert Popata from AWUNZ will speak about his frontline work advocating for RSE workers from Pacific countries now working in Aotearoa. His session will explore the realities these workers face: long hours, isolation from whānau, variable housing and pay, and vulnerability to exploitation. Robert will share stories from his organising and case work, outline key issues that unions and communities must address, and discuss the importance of strong relationships with Pacific “sending countries” and local employers. He will highlight practical ways delegates can stand in solidarity with RSE workers, so their rights, dignity and wellbeing are upheld. | Robert Poata |
| 12:30pm | Lunch | |
| 1:15pm | Political Panel The Political Panel will bring together political party representatives to speak directly to Pacific union delegates and communities about what they plan to do when they are in the government after 7 November 2026. Panelists will outline their workers and union‑friendly policies, priorities for Pacific families and communities, and positions on pay, job security, housing, cost of living and public services. This is a key opportunity to hear how parties intend to protect and strengthen workers’ rights, support thriving Pacific communities, and what further change they believe is needed. Delegates will be able to ask questions and challenge parties on the details behind their commitments. | Teanau Tuiono -Greens Hon.Carmel Sepuloni – Labour |
| 2:15pm | Energiser | |
| 2:30pm | Union Bus Stop The Bus Stop Activity will see affiliate unions hosting short, interactive “stops” where they share who they are, what they do, and their key priorities for Pacific members. Delegates can circulate, talanoa with union reps, and learn how each union is working to support and strengthen Pacific workers. | Lealamanu’a Niuafolau Aiga Caroline Mareko |
| 3:30pm | Afternoon Tea | |
| 4:00pm | Pacific Justice Anae Lupematasila Arthur Anae will share his work with Pacific Justice, a movement challenging New Zealand’s immigration setting that treat Pacific peoples as second‑class in their own region. Anae leads a petition for visa‑on‑arrival and equal treatment for Pacific travellers, confronting ongoing discrimination. His session will explore why Pacific justice in immigration matters for families, culture and dignity, and how collective action across Aotearoa and the Pacific is pushing for fair, respectful and lawful pathways that honor our historic ties and shared contribution. | Arthur Anae |
| 6:00pm | KP Fono Dinner Dinner guest Josephine Bartley will share reflections drawn from her experience as a Pacific community and local government leader, speaking to our theme Lalaga – Weaving our Strength… Built for this! She will talk about what it means for Pacific people to build collective strength across communities, unions and civic spaces, and how we are “built for” leadership, advocacy and service. Josephine will highlight the everyday resilience of Pacific families, the importance of representation at decision‑making tables, and the power of weaving our stories, struggles and hope together so Pacific workers and communities can thrive in Aotearoa. | Speaker – Josephine Bartley Dj – Dwight Semu |
Day 2
| 9:00am | Opening Prayer Reflections | Lealamanu’a Niuafolau Aiga Caroline Mareko & Nia Bartley |
| 9:30am | Electoral Commission | |
| 10:00am | Election Talanoa In sixteen weeks Aotearoa NZ will hold the next General election on November 7th, 2026. Overseas voting starts October 8th 2026. Enrolment to vote closes at midnight, 13 days before Election Day (October 25th, 2026), and advance voting starts the next day (October 26th, 2026) – 2 weeks before election day, ending November 6th 2026. Pasifika workers and communities need to be aware of these important dates and how to ensure they will be able to cast their right to vote. Our Talanoa will discuss solutions to combat issues that will have an impact on our people. With the changes to the rules with the dates, it is important to share the correct message to enrol, register and VOTE in this year’s election. | |
| 10:30am | Morning Tea | |
| 10:45am | Polynesian panthers | Pacific Justice On June 16, 1971 young Pasifika and Maori activists formed the Polynesian Panther Party. Inspired by the American Black Panthers, their platform was guided by the “Educate to Liberate” framework. They fought state-sanctioned racism, police brutality, and systemic inequality. They protested against the ‘Dawn Raids’ of the 1970’s and the 1981 Springbok Tour. This session we’ll meet 3 of the founding members and hear about their journey from the early days to where they are all now. | Rev Alec Toleafoa, Lupematasila Dr Melanie Anae & Tigi Ness |
| 11:50am | Fair pay agreements The Fair Pay Agreements (FPAs) Bill was introduced to Parliament March 29th 2022. The purpose of the bill was to provide a regulatory foundation for setting pay and conditions across whole industries, through negotiations between employers and workers through their unions. This was to be transformational for many industries, especially those where workers employed contractors suffer low wages and poor conditions as a result of competitive tendering. FPA became law in November 2022. This changed when the National-led coalition government repealed the Fair Pay Agreements Act on December 20, 2023. Fala Haulangi will share the hopes and dreams of the movement. | Fala Haulangi |
| 12:30am | Lunch | |
| 12:15pm | Table Talanoa | |
| 1:30pm | Komiti Pasefika Meeting – Convenors Report – Election | Lealamanu’a Aiga Caroline Mareko & Nia Bartley |
| 3:30pm | Wrap Up Farewells | Lealamanu’a Niuafolau Aiga Caroline Mareko & Nia Bartley |
Speakers
Hon. Carmel Sepuloni
Hon Carmel Sepuloni is a New Zealand parliamentarian, currently serving as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and the Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. Carmel entered Parliament in 2008, as New Zealand’s first MP of Tongan descent. She has held significant ministerial offices, including Social Development & Employment, Child Poverty Reduction, Foreign Affairs (Pacific Region), Pacific Peoples, Women, Disability Issues, and in 2023 became New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister — the first Pacific woman to hold this office.
All her work is underscored by her commitment to building equitable opportunities for all New Zealanders. Currently, she is the Labour Spokesperson for Auckland, Pacific Peoples, and Women.
Lealamanu’a Niuafolau Aiga Caroline Mareko MNZM, JP, FNZEI
Lealamanu’a Niuafolau Aiga Caroline Mareko is a New Zealand-born Samoan from Lalomanu, Avao, Mulifanua, Faleula and Vaiusu. She is Community Services Senior Lead at Whānau Manaaki Kindergartens, overseeing Piri’anga Alofa Pacific & Community Services, including Pacific ECE, transport, Le Fale Job & Skills Hub, community navigators and Whānau Ora Pasifika initiatives. With over 30 years’ experience delivering culturally responsive professional development across education, government and community sectors, she is deeply involved in Pacific community engagement. Lealamanu’a has been national co‑convenor of the NZCTU Komiti Pasefika Sector Council for over a decade and convenor of NZEI Te Riu Roa’s National Pasifika Leadership Caucus, and serves on multiple Pacific and local leadership boards and forums.
Fala Haulangi
I am a campaign union organiser, also co-ordinating Komiti Pasifika & Migrant members of E tū Union, where I advocate strongly for Living wage, Fair Pay Agreements, equal pay, migrant workers’ rights, and climate change. I used to serve on the Police Pacific Advisory Group for the Auckland District and represent E tū and the Pacific voice. I was part of the Temporary Migrant Workers Exploitation Community Group with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Currently a Board member of the Migrant Action Trust in Auckland and was the co-convenor of the Pacific Women’s Watch (New Zealand) Inc. Currently the producer and an announcer for the Pacific Media Network (PMN) – Tuvalu Community Radio programme on Radio 531 PI.
Josephine Bartley
Josephine Bartley is an Auckland councillor representing the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki ward and was the first Pacific woman elected to Auckland Council.
Raised in Māngere, she is of Samoan and Chinese-Samoan heritage and has long been committed to serving her community. After standing unsuccessfully for public office in 2006 and as Labour’s Tāmaki candidate in 2008, she was elected to the Maungakiekie-Tāmaki Local Board in 2010, becoming its chair in 2016. In 2018, she won a by-election to Auckland Council following Denise Lee’s departure to Parliament. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bartley faced threats of violence because of her support for the vaccine rollout. She is seeking re-election in 2025.
Lisa Meto Fox
Lisa Meto Fox is an Auckland-based employment advocate and consultant with a background in employment law. As Manager of the Pacific Pay Gap Inquiry at the New Zealand Human Rights Commission, she helped lead a landmark investigation into the disparities faced by Pacific workers, shaping national conversations on workplace equity. Her insights on pay gaps and workers’ rights have featured in E-Tangata and on RNZ and PMN, and she brings a rare blend of legal expertise and lived experience to her work with Pacific workers and unions across Aotearoa.
Lupematasila Dr Melani Anae
Dr. Melani Anae is a senior lecturer in Pacific Studies at the University of Auckland, acclaimed author, and former member of the Polynesian Panthers. Of Sāmoan descent, she has dedicated her career to advancing Pacific scholarship, social justice, and anti-racism in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her research and teaching focus on Pacific identity, migration, decolonisation, and the enduring legacy of the Polynesian Panthers. Through the Panthers’ Educate to Liberate programme, she has helped thousands of students explore New Zealand’s history and the importance of equity and inclusion. Dr. Anae is the author of several influential works, including The Platform: The Radical Legacy of the Polynesian Panthers, and continues to inspire new generations through education, advocacy, and community leadership.
Melissa Ansell-Bridges
Melissa Ansell-Bridges was elected CTU Secretary in October 2019.
She was previously the Director of Equity New Zealand where she had worked since 2016. She has a particular interest in the rights of contractors and has been a member of the Better Protections for Contractors Tripartite Working Group and the Film Industry Working Group where she has successfully advocated to secure the right for contractors in the screen industry to be able to collectively bargain for minimum terms and conditions.
She is also keenly interested in progressing Gender and Ethnic Pay Equity and is a member of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of Women to the Minister for Women. She is a trustee of UnionAID, member of the International Trade Union Confederation – Asia Pacific General Council, honorary executive member of the Pacific Island Council of Trade Unions and holds a BA/LLB(Hons) with majors in Politics and Sociology.
Nia Bartley
Echoing the many greetings of welcome from Te Moana Nui a Kiwa which reflect my rich and diverse whakapapa/gafa to seven Pasifika nations.
An experienced and staunch union activist for workers’ rights, human rights, and our environment. An ‘unofficial’ Polynesian Panther. I am a member of the PSA and Etu Unions. I advocate and amplify our collective voices for all especially tangata whenua and tangata o le moana. Together let’s find solutions to bring back a government that cares for our people and nation.
“O lupe sa vao ese’ese, ae ua fuifui fa’atasi.”
“We are from different parts of the forest, but connected in one cause.”
It is people, it is families, it is communities, it is a future we must build together.
Rev Alec Toleafoa
Rev. Alec Toleafoa was ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand in 1986 after training at Knox Theological College, University of Otago. Throughout his ministry he has worked with urban communities, young people, people in custodial and residential settings, and leadership development, with a strong focus on social justice. His commitment to this work stems from his involvement with the Polynesian Panthers in his youth. Since 2011, Rev. Toleafoa has been part of the Polynesian Panther Party Legacy Trust’s Educate to Liberate programme, helping schools teach the history of Pacific peoples and the Panthers’ role in Aotearoa New Zealand, now included in the national history curriculum.
Rev. Linda Hope
Robert Poata
Robert Popata (Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu) is the Regional Secretary at AWUNZ, with extensive experience in union advocacy, workplace relations, and fair employment practice. He has worked across organising, mediation, and negotiation roles, supporting members to achieve safe and equitable workplaces. Robert has served as a Union Organiser with AWUNZ Federation, contributing to collective agreements and health and safety improvements. Earlier in his career he worked as a Log Cut Off Saw Operator at Carter Holt Harvey and led departments in retail as Head of Department for Whiteware and Electronics at Farmers. He is an HR and business advisor at Manawa Ora, with strong focus on relationships, wellbeing, empowering workers.
Sailauama Cheryl Talamaivao
Teanau Tuiono
Teanau Tuiono is a List MP for the Green Party based in Palmerston North and the party’s first Pasifika MP. Of Cook Islands Māori (Atiu) and Ngāpuhi/Ngāi Takoto descent, he has spent more than 20 years as an activist, advocate, and organiser working across environmental, Indigenous, and social justice issues. His work has ranged from grassroots campaigns to representing Indigenous communities at the United Nations, with a focus on climate change, biodiversity, and Indigenous rights. Widely respected in both Māori and Pasifika communities, Teanau sees Parliament as a platform to amplify community voices and build a more just, sustainable future where people and the environment can thrive together.
Tigi Ness
Tigilau Ness is a Niuean New Zealand musician, activist, and founding member of the Polynesian Panthers. A lifelong advocate for social justice, he played a leading role in campaigns against racism, apartheid, and for Māori land rights, including the Bastion Point occupation and protests against the 1981 Springbok Tour. As a pioneering reggae artist, he founded Unity and later Unity Pacific, using music to champion unity, equality, and Pacific identity. His influential career spans more than four decades and was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pacific Music Awards in 2009. Tigilau continues to inspire through his music, activism, and storytelling, including alongside his son, acclaimed musician Che Fu.
Arthur Anae
Anae Arthur Anae is a respected New Zealand leader, businessman, and advocate for Pacific communities. Born in Suva, Fiji, in 1945, he became the first Pacific person elected to New Zealand’s Government as a National Party Member of Parliament in 1996. Throughout his career, he has championed initiatives benefiting Pacific peoples, including pension portability and the restoration of New Zealand citizenship rights for eligible Samoans. He has also served as a Manukau City and Auckland Councillor. In 2025, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Samoan community and received a national honour from Samoa in June. He currently chairs Pacific Justice, advocating for fairness, equality, and stronger Pacific partnerships.