THE TEAM

Robson Tavita

Founder, Head of Advocacy

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, Operations & Finance

Lawyer and former professional rugby player Dale joined TYMS as Operations Manager in early 2015.

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 young people, having been blessed with many role models/mentors and a strong supportive family.
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Mary-Ellen Takie

Practice Manager

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 goods and potentials 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 quality standard.
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Mary-Ellen is no stranger to the West Auckland ranges; she highly recommends it for hiking, especially during the cold winter season.​
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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.  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.

Allen Wesche

Academic Mentor - West

Allen was raised in a family who instilled the value of hard work, love and respect for one another, equality and unconditional love for others.

Allen brings these values to his role as an Academic Mentor with TYMS, as well as his life experience in roles as varied as a fabricator and welder, security personnel and, more recently, a stay at home dad. It was during his time as a stay at home dad that Allen developed an interest in child development and the ways in which we can work with children and young people to improve outcomes, and now brings these special skills and knowledge to his role as an academic mentor.
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Sai Bhai

Team Leader - North

Sai has been employed by TYMS as an academic mentor since April 2014. A father of two, Sai has made it his mission to give his own children a better opportunity for education, and to give them a strong, confident start in life by believing in them and giving them the life skills to empower themselves to make good choices.

According to Sai, helping children create better futures is in his DNA. He has held prior positions in logistics and people management, but believes that being a mentor is by far one of the most fulfilling jobs that he has ever been a part of.

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 for the Great Boxer to share with him his skills, lessons, values, his tribulations, his encouragement, and everything else that made him the champion that he was. He'd especially like the Great Ali to teach him his boxing ring dance moves.

Donna Taylor

Teacher

Donna is a qualified teacher with a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Teaching (5 years), BA in English (minor in Te Reo Maori), Certificate in Teacher Aide, and a Certificate in Community Work.

Donna joined our TYMS team in April 2018, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise from her background in teaching, community work, and diverse life experiences. From volunteering as a swimming instructor for the Lotteries Commission to helping with the Reading Recovery Program, working as a teacher aide for those with learning and/or behaviour needs, teaching First Aid in schools for St. Johns, and becoming a member of the Board of Trustees for her local school, Donna has done it all. She is a single mum with three beautiful children, one of whom passed away in 2006 due to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Donna says that she had many highs and lows over the course of her life, and all those experiences have contributed to the well-rounded and non-judgmental individual that she is.
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Donna has a genuine interest in working with youth in positive and meaningful ways. She believes that one, positive conversation, is enough to change a life. ​

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Marshall Gass

Teacher

Marshall joined the TYMS team in April 2018. He 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. He enjoys writing and academic pursuits as much as he enjoys teaching.
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Marshall has two adult children and recently became a grandfather. He is an active individual person who has many wonderful stories and a scholarly background that appeals to TYMS philosophy.

Victor Kalolo

Academic Mentor

Victor joined TYMS early this year. He brings much experience and energy from his rich background in youth work. 

Victor is passionate about improving the lives of our young people. He loves seeing them grow into leaders and well-mannered young men.

He excels in team-working environments, hence his selection as the team Social Club President/Organiser.

Idris Balizi

Academic Mentor

Twenty four year old Idris is of Samoan and Moroccan descent. He was born and raised in West Auckland, which he says had sparked his interest in working with young people in the community, minority groups in particular. He says he is a product of his environment, and that it brings him great joy to work in and give back to the community that raised him.

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Elise McAdam

Teacher

Nicole Beer

Financial Administrator

Raised in West Auckland, Nicole is a Chartered Accountant with a passion for systems and processes and years of experience in the not-for-profit sector.  She is driven by her career objective of making a difference, which inspired her interest in working with vulnerable children.  She has a genuine empathy for youth and describes herself as being a kid at heart.  She is a also a mother of twins, which she says is more difficult than being an accountant and is passionate about basketball, having played, coached and refereed for many years.

Dan Yan

Family Support Coordinator

Dan is of Chinese descent. She moved to New Zealand in 2014 to study the Bachelor of Social Practice, and she is now a registered Social Worker. Dan joined the TYMS team late in 2017. She says she was inspired to join the TYMS family after reading TYMS sucesseful stories of supporting so many young people in becoming their own life changers. "The TYMS family are amazing people and I wanted to be a part of it", Dan says. 
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Dan loves to listen to the young peoples stories. She is passionate about using her skills to make a real and positive difference in their lives. Dan works alongside our mentors to provide external supports for the young people and their families.

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Lafoaluga Tapaleao-Sakaria

Office Administrator

Luga has a Bachelor of Arts - Double Major in Pacific Studies and History from the University of Auckland.

Luga is a Westie girl. She hails from the villages of Toamua and Sagone in Samoa, and is a member of the EFKS church. She has a beautiful little family which she says is her 'why'.
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​Luga has a background in Community Development and her most recent stint was in the Pacific Water sector in Samoa. She is also a hardcore Warriors and All Blacks fan.

Luga came to TYMS because she wanted to work for an organisation where she can contribute to her Pacific and local West Auckland community.

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Koleta Savaii

Internal Evaluator

Koleta is of Samoan descent. She was raised in the fa’aSamoa and Christianity by her grandparents, extended family, church and village. She says that from a young age she was taught the value of service and contributing to the good of the family, church and village. ‘O le ala i le pule o le tautua – The pathway to leadership is through service’. This value of service to the community has guided her throughout life, hence her passion for work that enables her to use her God-given talents to be of service to others, especially her Samoan and Pacific community.

Her research interests include Pacific youth romantic relationships, well-being, and intimate partner violence; Pacific communities’ resilience to natural disasters; and Samoan youths’ experiences of giving and responsibility to the family and the impacts of these practices on their mental health and well-being.
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Through TYMS she is able to contribute to her Pacific community, working with our most vulnerable young people helping them to find a sense of belonging in their communities and achieving their fullest potential.

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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