Our TYMS 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.

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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Office Team

Genaya Mulitalo

Office Administrator
​​Genaya is NZ-born Samoan who has spent most of her life in West Auckland. Her father is from Taufusi and mother from Salelologa. Her dad came from Samoa in the late 60s and mother arrived in NZ in the early 70s. 
She is the middle child with four brothers. 
 
Genaya and her husband have 3 children. She loves travelling, her dog Koko, Summer time, road trips, long walks, listening to music and spending time sharing a meal with her family and friends.
 
Most of her working career has been in Manufacturing industry where she spent most of her years doing Accounts Payable and Payroll. Genaya's role prior to TYMS, was at a aged care facility doing administration and payroll. She loved the interaction with the elderly residents, listening to them and seeing the sparkle in their eyes when they reminisced on the amazing lives they lived. She has always wanted to work for an organization that does amazing work in the community and knew that she had found that with the TYMS aiga (family).

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.

Eleen 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. 

Idris Balizi

Project Manager
​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 developing our projects and supporting those who deliver our programmes . 

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")


Transition to Adulthood (TTA) 

Marlon Naepi

Transition Support Worker

Iosua Arona

Transition Support Worker
Marlon Naepi is Maori from the tribe of Nga Puhi and Niuean from the villages of Alofi and Tamakatonga. He was born and grew up in West Auckland in the area of Henderson. He is the oldest of five siblings and is an aspiring Māori and Niuean psychologist currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in arts (Psychology) with a passion for Māori and Pasifika youth succeeding in life. He is also on the cusp of becoming a husband to the love of his life. 
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With work experience all centered around building relationships, empowering, mentoring, supporting, and walking alongside people of various ages and ethnicities. Marlon has a heart to see all people thrive and live the best life possible no matter what life throws at us. Marlon lives his life guided by the key values of faith, family, fellowship, food, and fun. These values are the core tenets of who he is, how he thinks and acts.
Iosua is a Kiwi-born Samoan, with roots in the villages of Savaia, Lefaga, and Letogo. Raised in West Auckland, he spent most of his adult life in Australia, where he met his wonderful wife, and together, they have been blessed with a child.

He considers himself extremely fortunate to have had remarkable people throughout his life who raised and supported him. Their influence has profoundly shaped his dedication to serving others and reinforced his belief that everyone deserves to belong to a caring community.

With over 15 years of experience in community-focussed roles, Iosua finds great joy in connecting with people daily. Walking alongside individuals and engaging in talanoa, he appreciates the meaningful conversations they share, and building genuine relationships.

James Port

Transition Support Worker

John Su'a

Engagement Planner
​Transition Support Worker
​​James' family hails from the beautiful island of Vava’u in Tonga. He is grateful to his Nana and Tongan family for instilling strong Tongan values and being a source of love and support.

James has developed a passion for psychology and understanding the capabilities of the human mind. Having recently completed his degree and Bachelor of Honors, he aspires to become a registered
psychologist in New Zealand to support those in need.

James is grateful for Pacific and Maori models such as Te Whare Tapa Wha and Fono Fale, which
emphasise a holistic view of health that resonates with him as a Pacific person. James aims to use his
psychological training to enhance both his own and others’ mental well-being, contributing to our
overall well-being and life fulfillment.

"Mental health is not a destination, but a process. It's about how you drive, not where you're going."
– Noam Shpancer
John hails from Western Sydney, Mt Druitt where he spent all his life. A place that tested, shaped and molded him into the man that he is today. He is a family man of faith, from the villages of Satapuala & Tuaefu in Samoa.

John brings close to a decade of experience working in the social services space, many of those years working alongside the youth which is what he's most passionate about.

Being able to give back to a community similar to his upbringing is something special, helping youth from marginalized communities realize their potential and showing them that there is a better way.

Individual Mentoring Service - Youth Mentors

Richi Vaega

Youth 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.

Donald Tasi 

Youth 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. 

William Raea

Youth Mentor
William Raea is of Cook Island, Greek and Welsh descent from his Father and English, Irish descent from his Mother. He loves the Lord with all his heart and loves to serve others. William is a loving husband to his beautiful wife and super excited to become a father. 
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Before becoming a mentor William has worked in Retail in addition to working with his brother and his clothing brand - Treth. William began working as a Mentor after recently becoming a Youth Leader at Church and finding out how much he loves working with and encouraging the youth. William’s faith in Jesus is the centre of who he is and what he does. Having the opportunity to share this hope in Christ and the love of Jesus with the youth so that they too can overcome any challenge is such a privilege. 

William enjoys playing sports, pretty much any sport. The sports environment has taught William good lessons in sportsmanship, leadership, encouragement, comradery and work ethic. William uses sports to build relationships with the youth and pass on those good lessons to them.

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.

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.

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".

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.

Robert Todd

Teacher
Robert Todd is Niuean, Samoan, and Palangi descent. Married for 23 years, with 3 beautiful girls. he returned to New Zealand in 2012 from England, where he played professional rugby for 10 years, until forced into retirement when diagnosed with cancer.

While fighting cancer, he studied fulltime, attaining a Bachelor of Human Sciences with a Masters of Chiropractic.

With a love of sports, and a passion for rugby he returned to coaching in his community - firstly at his childhood rugby club, and then with various sports teams his daughters were involved in (touch, tag, cycling, rugby, softball, and netball.)

"I believe through sports there are many life lessons and values to be learned and enduring friendships to be made. As a chiropractor people ask for your help, when you’re able to return them to a state of function, the reward you feel is immense. The reward now, as TYMS mentor, is I get given the opportunity to positively influence our Pasifika and Māori youth, to recognise and guide them to reach their full potential.
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A Māori proverb I love is,
He aha te mea nui o te au?  He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people."  

Rasalila Humphrey

Teacher
​Rasalila is passionate about all things creative, community, social, yoga and meditation, cooking healthy kai, and sharing these passions with Rangatahi. Born in Aotearoa and coming from a large family, Rasalila is the eldest of seven siblings, so changing nappies and cooking dinner since age 10, she feels most comfortable and 'at home' surrounded by young people, and loves to share with Rangatahi the joy of cooking healthy, affordable meals for whānau and friends.
 
From an educationally and economically disadvantaged background, Rasalila feels blessed and lucky enough to have since gained 2 bachelor degrees and travelled the world. Rasalila has worked internationally in many different creative and educational fields, such as commercial photography, film, visual arts, graphic recording, yoga, meditation, teaching and tutoring, learning that through opportunity, enthusiasm, connection with others and hard work, anything is possible! Rasalila hopes to now share and inspire Rangatahi with these skills, techniques, cultural and life learnings, while also learning a thing or two herself from these inspiring young people!

Maria Dunn

Teacher
Ko Mamari toko waka, 
Ko Whirinaki toku maunga, 
Ko Waiwhatawhata toku marae, 
Ko Ngāti Whārara toku hapū, 
Ko Ngā Puhi toku iwi. 
Ko Maria Dunn toku ingoa.

Maria is dedicated to supporting people from all walks of life, including adults and rangatahi, in finding their paths and reaching their goals. She believes that no challenge is too great and is committed to helping individuals navigate their transitions to new and better opportunities. While life can present obstacles and moments of uncertainty, what matters most is how we move forward.

Maria is passionate about empowering others to uncover and chase their dreams, even those who may not have known they had. With years of experience supporting people as they reintegrate into their communities, she aims to help them find their best path. Sports, especially netball and volleyball, have been a significant part of her life, and she has spent many years coaching representative teams.
Maria enjoys spending time with her eight daughters and nine grandchildren, who bring immense joy to her life. She is committed to the idea of growth for everyone, embracing the principle of
​ko tahi tanga— we are all one.

Kia hora te marino, kia whakapapa pounamu te moana, kia tere te karohirohi i mua i tō huarahi.
May the calm be widespread, may the ocean glisten as greenstone, may the shimmer of light ever dance across your pathway.

External 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.