When Fuamoa Allen fell into a coma after brain surgery twelve years ago, her doctors advised she would not have long to live. Fuamoa’s daughter Trudy Savea refused to accept this prognosis, fighting to keep her mother alive and well cared for within the family home in Takanini.

Born in the village of Kolofo’ou in Tonga, Samiu Koniseti migrated to live in Aotearoa as a young man in the 1980s. Having worked hard and raised his family, in recent times Samiu has faced some challenges, being diagnosed with cancer while living in transitional housing.

In 2021, Miriam Terei-Roriki left Rarotonga for urgent medical treatment in Aotearoa. Vaka Tautua supported Miriam and her family to adjust to their new life, and learn to thrive with help from our Parenting and Tupe Wise Programmes. 

Vaka Tautua has shifted two social wellbeing programmes online to ensure our Pacific families in Auckland still have access to much needed services and support.

Vaka Tautua’s hard-working Community Connectors are making a real difference to the lives of those who need it the most.