Our staff

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.

You can read more about Robson's story and how he came to do this work in our blog on physical wellbeing

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.

Mary-Ellen Takie
Practice Manager

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

Her passion is working with families and youth, using a family centred strengths based approach. She believes that working alongside families to identify and develop their strengths is the key to producing long lasting outcomes

Russel Vaoiva
Head Teacher

Head Teacher Russel has been with TYMS for five years and 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.

Temple Paora
Academic Mentor / Student Advocate

Temple brings his extensive mentoring experience to TYMS and plays a key role in facilitating the goals of the young people we work with.

Temple came to mentoring after a diverse career that includes forestry, management, and sport and recreation. He is able to bring his very valuable life experiences to connect with our rangatahi and is very proud to advocate for them and their futures.

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.

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.

Keith Williams
West

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Richi Vaega
West

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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.

Jameela Diallo
Office Administrator

Jameela plays a vital role in the administration and smooth-running of TYMS operations.  She was born and raised in Central Auckland but is now a proud West Aucklander. She is passionate about supporting young people to succeed as she says that she herself received support in the past that enabled her to realise her full potential. Jameela sees TYMS as an organisation as creating a new family for young people outside of their own homes, and this in turn helps them to find the coping mechanisms needed in life. One day she hopes to travel and volunteer her time and skills to help those in less fortunate countries.

Koleta Savaii & Nadine Metzger
Evaluators

Koleta is a Master of Health Science student. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours, First Class) and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Her thesis looks at Pacific youth well-being through the lens of adolescent romantic relationships (ARR), using a Pacific research methodology (The Pacific worldview – Fonofale – Talanoa).
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.