Tauira o mua
TOA: TupuToa Alumni
A community of Māori and Pacific professionals
Toa: courage or courageous; the strongest tree found in the Pacific – casuarina equisetifolia, the ironwood tree; a warrior or a hero; brave, bold and courageous.
TOA’s purpose is to continue to offer personal and professional development pathways and opportunities to TupuToa alumni with a focus on early career development for those who are starting off their careers in the workforce.
TOA aims to promote and provide avenues to connect and engage with TupuToa alumni and also give back to the communities that they represent. With leadership being a major factor in necessary change, TOA will showcase and help build the leaders for a better Aotearoa.
531
TupuToa Alumni
Total number of past TupuToa interns
80
Conversion rate to Full-Time Employment
For interns eligible for graduate roles i.e. completed tertiary study
174
Partner Network
Total number of TupuToa partners
What are the benefits of TOA?
• Alumni rates to TupuToa events and conferences
• Invitations to networking events
• Access to personal and professional development programmes
• Opportunities to experience and intern overseas
• Staying connected to a growing network of Māori and Pacific professionals shaping a greater and more inclusive Aotearoa.
• Connection to a partner network of over 130 companies and organisations in both the public and private sector
Who qualifies to be part of TOA?
Anyone who has completed at least one internship round with TupuToa is a member of TOA.
Meet the Alumni Working Committee
Ha’ato’u in Pangai, Ha’apai and Hoi in Tongatapu
Asena started her journey with TupuToa in 2018, interning at Air New Zealand, being the first TupuToa Intern who has transitioned into a full time role. She has been a prominent member of the Alumni and took up the opportunity to represent in the Alumni Working Committee.
Asena says “being part of this kaupapa means a lot to me. I applied for TupuToa because I believed in the vision of the organisation, but also in the positive impact that it was already having in the lives of Māori and Pacific families and communities. I’ve experienced and seen it first hand and I feel privileged to be able to play a little part in this kaupapa.”
Looking toward the future, Asena has a bright one ahead of her, with her ambitious goals and drive. Asena has recently taken up an opportunity at MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade). Asena holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Bachelor of Arts (BA) Conjoint from The University of Auckland.
Sale'aula, Savai'I, Leauvaa, Upolu
Clevell interned at Russell McVeagh in 2017, working his way up from intern, to graduate, to solicitor. Clevell is now three years deep into his career.
Service through leadership holds strong with Clevell’s values, he says his why for joining the Alumni working committee is “Tautua”, a Samoan proverb – “o le ala I le pule o le tautua – the road to leadership is through service.” And Clevell says “others should join the kaupapa to strengthen the unity of our Alumni”
Clevell holds a bachelor of Laws (LLB) from The University of Auckland.
Tatakamotonga, Tonga and Tavua, Fiji
Anita has secured full time employment with Microsoft after two previous internships at SkyCity and Laminex – Fletcher Building. Anita has also recently been able to give back, supporting the Hikohiko te Uira project, a partnership between Microsoft and TupuToa, with a vision to provide digital skills training to thousands of Māori and Pacific people.
Representation and giving back to the cause that helped her is Anita’s why, “Being able to contribute to something bigger than myself; a kaupapa that helped me begin my career is an absolute privilege. To be able to strive for an Aotearoa that includes our Māori and Pacific people within the community organisations, public sector and corporate landscape to better represent the Aotearoa we live in is important.”
Anita holds a Bachelor of Arts & Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Auckland, Anita was also involved with the Women’s Mentoring Program and was awarded the Deans Leadership Award in 2019.
Fasi Moe Afi – Tonga
Jacinta has had significant experience and exposure in the public sector, she started her TupuToa journey, interning at Air New Zealand in the Procurement team and has since moved on to Procurement roles within; Auckland Transport, Kainga Ora, Oranga Tamariki, MSD, MBIE, Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care, and most recently, joining the team at Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
Jacinta spoke at our Annual Gala Dinner event in 2021, saying “I went from a shy intern to managing multi-million dollar contracts”
Being part of a growing network of Māori and Pacific Professionals is Jacinta’s why for contributing on the Alumni Working Committee “We are all a part of this mission of growing Māori & Pacific leaders for a greater Aotearoa and it is important that we continue to stay connected.” Says Jacinta.
Jacinta holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Operations and Supply Chain Management from The University of Auckland as well Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Procurement & Supply from The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply.
Ngati Hine, Te Rarawa, Ngati Porou
Matariki started his journey with TupuToa in 2018, interning at Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and has since secured a full time role within the Māori Economic Development Unit, Matariki is passionate about his people and communities designing what success looks like; to thrive in Aotearoa.
Passionate about his mahi, Matariki has worked on projects to support the He Kai Ki Aku Ringa (HKKAR) and Māori Innovation Fund, Enabling Māori Framework, Tūhono Māori Professionals Network – Rangatahi Committee member, and amongst it all he is also the Treasurer of local volleyball club.
At the heart of it all, Matariki says he joined the Alumni Working Committee to be part of a movement “it’s the oncoming tide of Māori and Pacifica professionals who have an opportunity take on the wero (challenge) of the people who have come before us – to determine our futures, for ourselves.”
Matariki holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) from Auckland University of Technology, majoring in Accounting.
