Our Team
Tony Fuemana
Manager, Uptempo - Niuean
Tony has a Bachelor in Social Services and is partway through his Masters of professional practice. Starting his career in IT, he was a Senior Analyst who worked to manage the Eftpos network and after a career change he took roles as General Manager for Whare Pasifika Housing trust, Senior Housing Portfolio Manager WiTT Hawkes Bay, Director Mahi Moana and hs also worked in the Mental health, Suicide Bereavement, Youth Worth field.
Prior to joining Auckland Council Pasifika success and Uptempo team, Tony worked for Wellington based Zero hunger Collective (Kore Hiakai) that looked at the root cause of poverty.
Tony is also involved in the creative arts and has toured the world with his brothers band “Otara Millionaires Club” with the song How Bizarre. He has also directed and filmed a feature movie in Tonga and filmed 8 documentaries on Niue Island Life and one of the founders of the Pacific Music Awards and is still involved in the music industry.
Tony believes that we must do more for our Māori and Pacific communities but he also believes that by working together with other likeminded organisations, we can make that change.
Mosese Rigamoto
'Aiga Facilitator - Rotuman
Mosese Rigamoto is of Rotuman heritage from the District of Oinafa, Rotuma. He was born and raised in Fiji. He is a qualified heavy diesel mechanic who has worked in the field of heavy machinery for 7 years before migrating to New Zealand in 2007. In 2010, Mosese took a turn in career to do Social Work after his profession as a tradesman was affected by the World Economic Recession Period.
Mosese had developed a passion working with ‘aiga and communities that were struggling with the economic crisis at hand. In 2014, he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and worked as a Registered Social Worker for 7 years with the Waitemata District Health Board at Waitakere and North Shore Hospitals.
Mosese joined The Southern Initiative in November 2021 as an ‘Aiga Facilitator from The Fono and in July 2022 he transitioned into the ‘Aiga Facilitator (Innovation Workstream) role with Uptempo.
Mosese enjoys holding conversations and building relationships with ‘aiga that are wanting to progress in life.
Aranui Titimanu
Job Detective - Tongan, Niuean
Aranui Titimanu is of Pasifika descent born and bred in Auckland. Her father is from Niue, and Tonga from the villages of Halafo’ou, Tongatapu and her mother is from Ofu, Vava’u, Tonga. Aranui is now living in South Auckland and is married with three young boys.
Aranui joined The Southern Initiative as an ‘Aiga Facilitator for the Uptempo team and later transitioned into the Job Detective role. She has a growing passion in working and learning in complex spaces to support the improvement of low socio-economic inequalities being experienced in Pasifika communities. She is also deeply interested in learning how to support Pasifika families in Auckland to enable positive intergenerational change.
Antonia Lili'i
'Aiga Facilitator - Samoan
Talofa Lava, Malo le soifua manuia ma le lagi e mama!
Antonia (Toni) Lilii is of Samoan heritage, from the village of Leauva’a in Upolu, Apia Samoa.
Antonia was raised in Mangere, South Auckland. She attended Marcellin College in Mt Albert where she was the Head Girl in 2002. Antonia has 2 girls, Dylia, 13, and Adrienne, 11, both at Holy Cross Catholic school in Papatoetoe. Antonia has completed a Double Diploma in Business Marketing and Advertising at Auckland University of Technology.
Antonia joined The Southern Initiative (TSI) from FIRST Union as ‘Aiga Facilitator for Uptempo. Antonia is passionate about helping Pacific Peoples to progress, and as a Pasifika Fono co-convener for FIRST Union, to help support Pacific workers mobilising in the workplace.
Antonia is excited to be part of the TSI-Uptempo whānau, working directly with our Pasifika ‘aiga and determining their economic futures.
Kitt Isidro
Business Analyst – Filipino
Roque Alvin Isidro aka Kitt is originally from Marikina, one of the cities of metropolitan Manila, Philippines. He migrated to Aotearoa in 2009 with his wife and four children and have since been based at Tāmaki’s North Shore.
Kitt has an accounting degree and highly experienced in providing business support and advice to top level executives and their teams. He is a tech wiz and a natural problem solver. He is passionate in making things happen and totally committed in helping others and being of service to the community.
He has been with Council since its amalgamation in 2010 and has worked with several departments within the Planning Division. Kitt joined The Southern Initiative at the latter part of 2020 as the Business Analyst of Uptempo. He is delighted to be part of the team, bringing with him his numeracy, design and IT skills, along with his people skills to work around the complexities in local and central government. He is looking forward to the challenges ahead and excited for the positive opportunities and transformational changes that will happen for the Pasifika ‘aiga through the Uptempo programme.
Seteuati Mau
Employment Innovator - Samoan
Taitu'uga Seteuati (Sete) was born and raised in the beautiful island of Sāmoa, hailing from the villages of Vaiala, Sapunaoa Falealili and Vaivase-Uta.
In 2022, Sete joined TSI as an 'Aiga Facilitator for the Uptempo team as part of The Fono. He brings more than seven years’ experience as a business development manager as well as two years as a client manager in the corporate sector. By Aug 2023, he moved into the Employment Innovator role, leveraging on his existing relationships with ‘aiga to identify employment pathways towards job progression through job brokering, coaching and mentoring.
He strongly advocates for equitable outcomes and opportunities for Pasifika communities and to see families thrive and reach their fullest potential. His number one priority is to serve our Pasifika people – to journey with the 'aiga, helping them navigate the ever-changing seasons they face with the current economic climate.
Sete is a strong believer that the pathway to leadership is through service, "O le ala, i le pule o le tautua."