Vaka Tautua Wellington Appoints New Regional Manager

Barbara Edmonds MP (red jacket) with (L to R) our CEO, Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop; new Wellington Regional Manager, Anna Pasikale; and Acting Regional Manager, Les Atoni.

Vaka Tautua’s new regional manager is passionate about making a difference in her new role in Aotearoa’s Capital. 

Wellington welcomed its new regional manager Anna Pasikale last week, with Pasikale determined to make a difference for Pacific peoples and youth, through education and health and effective interventions. 

Of Fijian descent, Pasikale’s appointment marks Vaka Tautua’s continued dedication to strategic investment in the regions.

Vaka Tautua CEO Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop says the organisation is delighted to have Pasikale on board, with Pasikale bringing a wealth of experience to the role: “She is a senior executive, with over 35 years’ experience in the education, health, community development, research and evaluation sectors,” Dr Dunlop says.

“We are very fortunate to have someone of Anna’s calibre leading our vaka in Wellington.”

Before joining Vaka Tautua Pasikale was a Unit Manager, Human Development, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade - she had 17 years at MFAT - and other previous jobs include Senior Advisor – Pacific at the Tertiary Education Commission and Manager at Kainga Ora.

Pasikale will be based at Vaka Tautua’s Wellington office in Porirua and will manage the Wellington operations. 

Says Pasikale: “I wanted to follow my passion and work with my values. Vaka Tautua provided that opportunity as a Pacific, for Pacific and by Pacific organisation.

“I have been in the public service for over 30 years and have worked mainly on public policy and programmes impacting on Pacific people in NZ and the Pacific region in research, evaluation, education, health, governance, justice and employment sectors. 

“My own voluntary work with Pacific communities, especially with the Fijian and Tokelau communities, has been as important as my professional contributions. I have endeavoured to reflect PI values in all my roles.”

Pasikale says teamwork is key to success and she is looking forward to forging on and achieving great things with her new team. 

“My favourite Chinese proverb (yes we share some ancestors) is – “If you want to travel fast, then go alone. If you want to travel far, then travel together,” Pasikale explains. 

“I am looking forward to the journey at Vaka Tautua that will take us further and into better futures for Pacific people.”

Vaka Tautua is a national Pacific disability, health, and social services provider with a strong regional presence in the greater Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury regions. It delivers disability, mental health, older peoples, social services, and financial capability services.

For all enquiries, please email: comms@vakatautua.co.nz