Meet the Team

Robson Tavita

Founder, Head of Advocacy

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​Robson aims to lead the delivery of catalytic change in the Auckland Community that makes a real difference in the lives of Pasifika and Māori youth and their families.

In his former role as a youth development worker for the NZ Police, Robson frequently came across Pasifika and Māori youth who didn’t have the literacy skills to do something as basic as write an apology letter. The numbers of young people who were unable to read or write stuck with Robson, and in 2010 he established TYMS in memory of his late father, Tuilaepa Ropisone Tavita.

Robson’s Dad Tuilaepa came to New Zealand from the island of Samoa with nothing but his personal self-belief, and dedicated his whole life making sure his family grew up understanding the importance of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and a good work ethic. It is these values that Robson is committed to passing on to the young people that he works with.

Robson holds a Bachelor of Social Practice and a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching. He is currently studying towards a Post Graduate Diploma in Not-for-Profit Management. Robson has over 30 years of experience working with young people both personally and professionally.

Dale Rasmussen

General Manager

​Lawyer and former professional rugby player Dale joined TYMS in early 2015 after working in property development and the law.

Dale's passion to see pacific and maori young people achieve their full potential and live their best lives drew him to commit to this new journey serving his community alongside his friend Robson Tavita.

Dale comes from a proud samoan family of ten so understands very well the importance of a strong family unit and culture.  Like many other pacific, Dale's parents Ruta and Sam came from Samoa in the seventies for better opportunities for their kids.  Dale like his siblings has a strong sporting background representing Manu Samoa and playing professionally in the UK for 9 years.   

Dale has a real passion for helping young people and has been involved in working with youth through initiatives such as the Young Dads programme. He has first-hand experience of mentoring and support and the difference it can make to the lives of young people, having been blessed with many role models/mentors and a strong supportive family.




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Mary-Ellen Takie

Practice Manager

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​Mary-Ellen is a qualified Social Worker and has a Bachelor of Social Practice.

She has a passion for working with families and youth, driven by the dream to see all young people feel safe and loved in their homes, schools, and communities. Mary-Ellen loves creative work and regularly translates this talent into strengths-based programs that ensure young people themselves and their families, teachers and others around them see the 'good and potential' and continue to build on these, rather than the negatives. Her role as the Practice Manager complements this by making certain all our programs and practices are safe and of  a quality standard.
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Mary-Ellen is no stranger to the Waitakere Ranges in West Auckland; she highly recommends it for hiking, especially during the cold winter season.​
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Our Mentors

kulu liava'a

Transition to Adulthood
Services ​Worker

​Kulu enjoys movies, eating, reading, writing and working with young people. Before Kulu came to TYMS he also had work experience as a stage crew member for two years and venue security for six years. This young Tongan has had the privilege to travel to Croatia, the U.S and Australia for his musical gifts. He also brings a natural warmth to the young people and wisdom that we are happy to welcome on board.
 
Kulu is a qualified Youth Worker and has over 8 years of volunteer experience in this sector. His experience with The Logos Project, MATES, The St Vincent de Paul Society, CARITAS NZ and The Edmund Rice Community has contributed to the enrichment of his knowledge and growth of his compassion. We embrace this gentle, multi-lingual, multi-talented, giant, faith filled man and entrust our young people to his keeping. 
 
1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Idris Balizi

Transition to Adulthood
​Services Worker

​​Idris is of Samoan and Moroccan descent and was born and raised in West Auckland, which he says sparked his interest in working with young people in the community, minority groups in particular. 

Outside of his role, Idris plays rugby and basketball and says he has an eclectic taste in all types of music. His interests and ability to build rapport has made him a perfect fit in helping our young men transition from youth to adulthood. 

ldris says he is a product of his environment, and that it means a lot him to give back to the community that raised him ("Pacific Island community of West Auckland")

Li Ilolahia

Transition to Adulthood Services Worker

​Li Ilolahia, was born and raised in Central Auckaland, Mt Albert and is full Tongan.  Majority of his working background is in Business (mainly education and marketing) but he finds this type of work more fullfiling. Prior to working at TYMS, Li was a youth coach for two Youth Service providers. He then became a cultural advocate for the courts for Maori and Pacific families. This meant ensuring judges were aware of cultural influences, trying to help them understand behaviours of our youth court, as well as ensuring the families understood the processes of court. 
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Li loves music - old school, hip hop & RnB. In his past he was DJ, so music is really his fun place. Faith is also important to Li - he says his grandparents used to do the Lord’s prayer with him growing up and so his always had that in the back of his mind. 

Richi Vaega

Academic Mentor

​Richi is of Samoan descent. He is a qualified Personal Trainer and has a passion for sports, music, and creative arts. Richi wanted to work for TYMS mentoring because he has a dream of living in a world rid of conflict and negativity.

Richi believes that in order to achieve this dream, we need to start with our young ones because they are the future. According to Richi, "if we can influence our youth of today to learn and display positive values towards themselves and others around them, then they will grow to be sanguine and optimistic. And with our youth equipped with the knowledge and skills to create peace, harmony, and a life to be happy and proud about, then our future generation and those to come will be overwhelmed with bliss".
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Richi enjoys keeping himself fit (or tries to, at least). If there was one person he'd like to meet from the past, he says it would have to be the Great Muhammad Ali. Richi would like to know his skills, lessons, values, tribulations, encouragement & boxing ring dance moves.

Jordan Tuigamala

Academic Mentor

Jordan is a proud West Auckland boy and an even prouder Pacific Islander. He loves combat sports and catching up with my family. One of his hobbies is videography and his guilty pleasure is listening to country music.

Before coming to TYMS Jordan worked in freight, retail, fitness, hospitality and even the funeral industry. However, he has always had a desire to serve his community and this is what ultimately led him to youth mentoring. Jordan hope is that he can draw on the experiences he's gained to help our young people realise their potential.

Jordan's favourite quote is:
"A boy comes to me with a spark of interest, I feed the spark and it becomes a flame. I feed the flame and it becomes a fire. I feed the fire and it becomes a blaze."
- Cus DÁmato

Donald Tasi 

Academic Mentor

​Donald has been employed by TYMS as an Academic Mentor since August 2018. He was born and raised in West Auckland and of Samoan descent.
He has been married for 21 years with two beautiful children. 

Donald has been involved in pastoral youth work in the Samoan community in Auckland and Samoa for many years. He has also been coaching basketball in high school, and reps for the last 5 years and is the current Manurewa High School Head Coach for the U19s senior A team. While coaching basketball, he uses it as a tool to teach life lessons on and off the court about how to become great young men, not just in their families, but most importantly in their community.

Donald transfers his basketball values and life skills into his mentoring role at TYMS.
Donald says he has experienced 1st hand the value of being mentored himself at a young age and believes that mentoring supported him to make positive decisions  growing up. 

Fred lene

Academic Mentor

Talofa lava, my name is Fred Lene. I am a Samoan, born and raised in Otara, South Auckland NZ. My parents are Samoan and from the villages of Sa’anapu(dad) and Tufulele(mum).

Before joining TYMS I spent 4 years working as a Corrections Officer. Working with the youth has always been a passion of mine. Just knowing that I can be an influence in someones life in helping them shape their lives for a better future. I love sports like rugby, rugby league, boxing and NFL. I believe through sports there are so many lessons our young people can inherit to better themselves.

My faith is also important to me as this is what keeps me grounded. The values I have as a Christian works alongside the values we have here at TYMS, this will help our Maori and Pasifika youth have a sense of belonging and living to their full potential.

Our Teachers

Russell Vaoiva

Head Teacher

​Head teacher Russel has much experience in assisting young people to achieve academic and personal goals.

Prior to working with TYMS, Russel was an intermediate/secondary school teacher for seven years, working mainly in schools in West and South Auckland. 
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​He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Organisation Studies; a Master of Arts in geography through the University of Auckland; and a Graduate Diploma in Teaching through AUT.

Marshall Gass

Teacher

Marshall comes to this career after two decades as a Secondary Teacher in a Catholic College.
Marshall is a qualified scholar with  2 Masters Degrees in Technology Education. English Literature, Teaching and Information Technology. He also has an incomplete PhD. He is a published author listed on Amazon with 16 books of Fiction, Non-fiction and Poetry. He has a social media readership on Quora, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn is nearer to 2million.
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​He enjoys writing and academic pursuits as much as he enjoys teaching. Marshall has two adult children and recently became a grandfather. He is an active individual who has many wonderful stories and a scholarly background that appeals to TYMS philosophy.

Robson Tavita

Teacher

Robson holds a Bachelor of Social Practice and a Post Graduate Diploma in Teaching.  Robson has over 30 years of experience working with young people both personally and professionally.

Ariana
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Gordon - Glassford

Teacher

​Ariana has worked within the education sector since 1994, in Primary Schools and specialist settings for children and young people with complex needs.

Ariana, of Ngaati Kahungunu ki te Wairoa descent, weaves te reo Maaori and tikaanga throughout the curriculum. She encourages young people to direct their own learning dependent on their unique strengths, interests and goals.

​Ariana loves to spend time with her husband and her whanau. Ariana is passionate about health and wellbeing She is competitive waka ama paddler, enjoys yoga and is also a qualified massage therapist. ​

Stacey Rasmussen 

Teacher

Stacey is a highly enthusiastic individual with a natural ability to connect and inspire rangatahi to learn.  Stacey has worked in and alongside the education sector since graduating from Auckland University with a Bachelor of Education.  She took time out to travel around the world with her husband and they raised 5 children before she joined TYMS in 2018 alongside relief teaching in mainstream schools. 

​She has always had a passion for young people and helping them reach their potential whatever that might look like.  Stacey's passions outside of work include playing netball, basketball, coaching aspiring athletes, spending time with family and friends and recently beginning to learn Te Reo.

Chris Ryan

Teacher

​Business Founder/Director and Visual Arts facilitator.

​Chris joined the TYMS team as a teacher in 2018. He is blessed with a lovely wife, three boys and one girl. He was born and raised in Tokoroa, of Samoan and Irish heritage.

Chris is passionate about contributing to disadvantaged youth reaching their potential through realizing their unique, God given talents and strengths.
Chris's interests include surfing, product/service innovation, reading, gardening and travelling with his family.

Ernie Delamere

Teacher

Ernie is a father of four sons, of Maori decent from a small place in the Eastern Bay of plenty called Whitianga. He was born and raised in South Auckland and went from school straight in to the work force as a telecommunications apprentice.

​14 years ago he began coaching a variety of sports, League, tag football, touch, this being the place where he found his passion to work with our Rangatahi. Sports has given Ernie the ability to teach more then just sports.. He uses it as a vehicle to teach life skills, and values such as, punctuality, work ethic, resilience, attitude,empathy
and many others. With these basic values along with understanding, you are able to achieve anything you desire.

His dream is to see all our youth grow to achieve there dreams, be successful, so they are positive contributors to there family, our communities, New Zealand, and our world.
Ernie's passion is to help them get there. His favourite quotes are "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard" & "Our desire to succeed must outweigh our fear of failure".

Office Hub

Langi Latu 

Project Manager

​Langi Latu is full Tongan and was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. She comes from a family of musicians & DJ's and loves all types of ethnic foods. She uses music, art and creativity as forms of self-expression and identity - which is what she spends most of her time on outside of work.  

Langi did her schooling in Central Auckland and completed her Marketing & Advertising degree at AUT & Concordia University in Canada. 

Prior to working at TYMS Langi was managing a CityFitness gym for two years, after working with youth and first year university students in South Auckland.

Langi's passionate about helping our Pacific young men, as she has a close relationship with her younger brother and male relatives - all of who excelled due to the help of other male mentors.

Eleen Prasad

Finance Administrator

Eleen Prasad was born and raised in beautiful Fiji. She's the second eldest child in a family of five and a proud aunty who loves to spoil her beautiful niece and three nephews.

Ellen has been an Accountant for past 18 years and says that accounting is a real passion of hers. During this period she gained experience and enjoyed working in a CA firm, Law Firm, Engineering company and Manufacturing company.

Outside work, Eleen loves hiking and travelling. She's a firm believer that "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself". Eleen also enjoys beach walks with her 2 dogs and lots of cuddles and play time with her cats. 

Christina Muaiava

Office Administrator

Christina Marie Muaiava nee Tuitama
is a New Zealand born Samoan. Her father is from Faleasiu, Upolu and her Mother is from Puapua, Savaii.  They met here in NZ and Christina is the eldest of five siblings.

Christina and her siblings grew up in Te Atatu North (now Peninsula) and is a born and bred Westie.  She is married to a Samoan whose roots are from Safatoa and Faleatiu.  They have two sons.  One of whom is married and the other is in College.  Christina loves her family very much.

Christina comes with extensive knowledge as a qualified Librarian with an NZLSC, she left school and worked for DSIR as a Library Assistant for 11 years.  Christina then worked for the Archive of Maori & Pacific Music at the University of Auckland for 22 years.  TYMS' work within the youth sector is what interests her as  she has a passion for Youth and is always wanting to see our Pasifika and Maori Youth being successful in any arena.  Christina believes "if that makes a difference, we all become successful for our Families, Communities and Country.  We can all help to break the cycle of disengagement. I believe God has blessed me with being part of TYMS".

our evaluator 

Nadine Metzger

Evaluator

 Nadine is a research and evaluation professional who specialises in evaluation which uses developmental models to influence social change. Nadine has worked with TYMS since 2012, helping us to understand how our work is contributing to outcomes for the young people we work with and how to ensure this work is sustainable.

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