PDM – Clinical Lead
Associate Professor Sione Vaka is the Poutumatua Pasifika (Tausisoifua) and Pacific lead at Te Huataki Waiora School of Health at the University of Waikato. He hails from the Kingdom of Tonga (villages of Longolongo, Neiafu, Lofanga and Lapaha) and had been working in different areas of mental health including acute inpatient, crisis services, early interventions, liaison psychiatry, community and cultural services. Sione’s research interests are mental health, Pacific health, gerontology, men’s health, youth. He has been awarded number of research grants and also won research awards. Sione also actively participates in the Pacific communities and ensures that the Pacific worldviews are addressed in the health and education systems. This leads to his contribution with the Pacific model of care, ūloa that address how to work with Pacific people experiencing mental distress
PDM – Clinical Governance Advisor
Dr ‘Etuini Ma’u is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Medicine at the University of Auckland and a Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist at Te Whatu Ora Waikato. He is a member of the Dementia Matewareware Leadership and Advisory group, providing strategic advice to guide government on achieving the vision of the Dementia Matewareware Action Plan in Aotearoa. ‘Etuini was awarded an HRC Pacific Clinical Research Training Fellowship in 2019 and the Alzheimers New Zealand Fellowship in 2022 to support his research into dementia prevention and improving dementia services for Pasifika people in Aotearoa.
PDM – Clinician
Dr Staverton Kautoke is a Tongan Psychiatrist who was born and raised in Tonga, completed his medical training at the University of Otago medical school and currently lives and works with his family in Auckland, New Zealand. He has more than 10 years’ experience working closely with people who had suffered and continue to suffer from Dementia. His clinical skills combined with his expert knowledge of the Tongan language and culture enables him to navigate a culturally sound approach and connect easily with those suffering from Dementia. Staverton is completing his qualitative research on the Tongan worldview on Dementia where he has interviewed both participants with dementia and their carers.
PDM – Clinician
Makoni Havea is a Nurse Practitioner in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in the Te Whatu Ora, Counties Manukau district. She is Clinical Lead for the Village Collective in Manukau and an academic mentor and supervisor at Massey University. She is a member of the Fatu Fono Ola (Pacific Health Senate), Te Whatu Ora. She has clinical experience working as a case manager, mental health nurse and leader in various mental health teams within Counties Manukau Health (inpatient and community), and in providing mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support within Primary Care and Integrated Locality Teams. Makoni was born in Ha’apai, and raised in the village of Haveluloto & Ngele’ia in Tongatapu. Her father is from Vaimalo, Vava’u and her mother is from Tongoleleka, Hihifo Ha’apai & Fungamisi, Neiafu Vava’u
PDM – Clinician
Tevita Vungamoeahi is the Project Manager for the Pacific Dementia Māngalo service. Originally from the villages of Tongoleleka and Felemea, Ha‘apai, Tonga, Tevita is fluent in Tongan and deeply connected to his culture and community. Before moving to Auckland, he spent over four years in Dunedin, where he contributed to several Pacific health initiatives, including the Ke Tatala Project. His experience spans mental health, vaccination outreach, and cardiovascular and cervical screening programmes across Pacific communities. Tevita’s leadership reflects his ongoing commitment to improving health outcomes and delivering culturally grounded care for Pacific families in Aotearoa.
PDM – Dementia Navigator
Malo e Lelei - My name is Paea Folau.
Before becoming a Dementia Navigator for Pacific Dementia Māngalo, I was a Registered Nurse working for the Ministry of Health in Tonga. My work was based in the Community where you are faced with people not understanding and discriminating those that has Dementia. One of my many responsibilities in the Community was to take care of those people and try to lead them into the right pathways of finding Medical attention and assessment and I am grateful and proud today for this opportunity as a Dementia navigator to be working for/with my Kāinga, for a better Living and understanding of dementia for all.
PDM – Clinician
Tevita Vungamoeahi is the Project Manager for the Pacific Dementia Māngalo service. Originally from the villages of Tongoleleka and Felemea, Ha‘apai, Tonga, Tevita is fluent in Tongan and deeply connected to his culture and community. Before moving to Auckland, he spent over four years in Dunedin, where he contributed to several Pacific health initiatives, including the Ke Tatala Project. His experience spans mental health, vaccination outreach, and cardiovascular and cervical screening programmes across Pacific communities. Tevita’s leadership reflects his ongoing commitment to improving health outcomes and delivering culturally grounded care for Pacific families in Aotearoa.
PDM – Dementia Navigator
Background/Experience: I was a Registered Nurse in Tonga with over ten years of experience, primarily working in the mental health unit. I hold a Bachelor of Nursing and a Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing, which have shaped my compassionate and culturally grounded approach to care.
What I Enjoy in This Role: I appreciate that this role allows me to understand the unspoken hardships within our community, build trust with families, and connect them with the support services that best meet their needs.
PDM – Dementia Navigator
My name is Panepasa Taungakava, I am working as a Dementia Navigator in the Pacific Dementia - Mangalo project. I was working as a Registered Nurse in Tonga from 2013-2023. I completed my Bachelor of Nursing in 2020 and Postgraduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing in 2021 from Fiji National University. Recently relocated to New Zealand in October 2023 from Tonga over Pacific Access Category Resident Visa. I was born in Ha'apai, and raised in the village of Haveluloto Tongatapu. My father is from Ha'ano, Ha'apai and my mother is from Ta'anea, Vava'u. I am interested in working with the people in the community especially those with Dementia.
