OUR TEAM
Eli Tulafono
Operations & Programme Manager
About Me
With over three decades of experience in the service industry—spanning the Child Protection sector and now the Family Harm space—I have dedicated my life’s work to restoring whanau wellbeing by empowering fathers to heal, grow, and lead with integrity. My personal journey, marked by both hardship and transformation, has shaped a deep commitment to mentoring men who seek to break cycles of harm and rediscover their purpose as protectors, partners, and parents.
Leadership Through Lived Experience
Over the years, I have had the privilege of working alongside diverse communities, frontline practitioners, and whanau navigating complex challenges. Today, I lead a team of remarkable men—many of whom are graduates of our new intervention programmes—each committed to walking alongside others on their own pathways to restoration. Together, we foster accountability, healing, and cultural reconnection.
Our approach is grounded in Tuakana-Teina values: a relational leadership model that honours the wisdom of lived experience while nurturing the growth of future leaders. Through our Train-the-Trainer strategy, we not only build capacity within our teams but also ensure the sustainability, authenticity, and scalability of our kaupapa.
Let’s Work Together
Whether you're a professional seeking to collaborate, a father ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery, or a community leader looking to strengthen local whanau responses—there is a place for you in this mahi.
Let’s connect, share insights, and co-create a future where families thrive, and men stand tall in their responsibility with love, strength, and courage.
Monty Valivaka
Pepeha
Ko Rāmaroa te Maunga
Ko Hokianga te Moana
Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua te Waka
Ko Ngāpuhi te Iwi
Ko Ngāti Koro te Hapū
Ko Pākanae te Marae
Ko Meljane rāua ko John Valivaka ōku mātua
Ko Monty Valivaka tōku ingoa
Professional Profile
I am proudly Maori and Niuean, raised in the heart of South Auckland—a place that has shaped not only who I am, but how I serve. My whakapapa connects me to the whenua of Te Tai Tokerau and the ancestral strength of my Niuean heritage. I carry both lineages with pride and responsibility, weaving together cultural values that underpin every part of my journey.
Over the years, I have cultivated deep and meaningful relationships across the community. My life’s work is grounded in service—serving people, whanau, and communities through connection, compassion, and integrity. I am deeply committed to walking alongside others in their healing and transformation, offering not just tools and support, but genuine care and cultural safety.
Whanau and Personal Values
As a devoted husband and father, my whanau is at the core of my purpose. They are my motivation, my grounding force, and my reminder of what truly matters. The values I strive to live by—alofa, manaakitanga, tautua, and whanaungatanga—are not just words, but actions that shape the way I lead, support, and uplift others.
I believe transformation happens through trust, and trust is built through presence, humility, and consistency. Whether in one-on-one mentoring, group facilitation, or community engagement, I bring a relational and culturally anchored approach that honours each person’s story and potential.
Community Work and Leadership
With years of experience supporting men, rangatahi, and whanau through life’s toughest seasons, I have developed a reputation for being both streetwise and heart-led. I bring a calm strength and a steady presence into spaces that often require courage, truth-telling, and accountability.
My work is guided by the belief that true change begins with connection—when a person feels seen, heard, and valued. I have a passion for helping fathers reclaim their place within the whānau, not as distant figures, but as present, loving leaders who break cycles and build legacies.
Senior Facilitator
FATHERS FOR FAMILIES VOLUNTEERS
our COMMUNITY MENTORS:
MATENI LYNCH
Lead Community Mentor - Facilitator
I am a father on a healing journey — a living reminder that no matter how far we fall, redemption is always within reach. I walk in compassion, faith, and purpose, standing beside men who carry the same scars I once did, helping them turn pain into purpose.
My story with Fathers For Families (FFF) began in 2024, sitting in the 10-week programme that first cracked open the walls I’d built around myself. It was the start of something new — not just a course, but a call to transformation.
In 2025, I joined the new 14-week kaupapa, this time not as a participant but as a student of life again. Term 1 gave me insight into a framework that mirrored my own journey — one that honoured wairua, identity, and restoration.
By Term 2, I was stepping forward as a Co-Facilitator, learning to connect my story with the lessons, bringing light into spaces where shame once lived.
By Term 3, I had graduated as a Facilitator — guiding others, mentoring co-facilitators, and leading discussions that reached deep into the hearts of men ready to change.
I am a father of two, grounded by the unwavering love of a whanau who refused to give up on me during my lost years. Their faith became the spark that lit my own.
Those years — tangled in gangs, violence, crime, drugs, and prison — once defined my name. But today, I see them as chapters that had to be written before purpose could take its place. What the enemy meant for destruction, God used to shape my calling.
Change is not reserved for the few — it’s the birthright of every man who’s willing to rise again. My transformation is a testimony that freedom is possible, healing is real, and faith still moves mountains.
Every session I lead, every father I walk beside, reminds me why I’m here: to give back what was freely given — hope.
“But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto thee.”
– Matthew 6:33
About me
Harawe “Hudz” Taniora
My Story….
I am committed to becoming a strong, grounded community mentor — one shaped by real-life experience, personal transformation, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by individuals, whanau, and communities.
My journey has equipped me with a mentoring style that is empathetic, practical, and firmly rooted in lived experience. I am passionate about supporting men from all walks of life, offering guidance that is steady, honest, and focused on helping them recognise their strengths, rebuild their confidence, and move toward a better future.
As a parent, I carry a perspective that blends consistency, patience, resilience, and nurturing leadership. The responsibilities of whanau life, combined with the support and growth gained through Fathers For Families, have strengthened my ability to connect authentically with those seeking direction. I understand the importance of stability, the power of encouragement, and the value of walking alongside someone during their most difficult seasons.
Whether it’s providing mentorship, advocating for the right support, or helping build stronger community networks, I am dedicated to making a positive and lasting impact. My goal is to stand as a dependable presence — a mentor who listens, guides, challenges, and ultimately helps others believe in their own potential.
I look forward to continuing this journey of service, growth, and leadership within the community.
Community Mentor
DAMIEN ANDERSON
Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua te waka
Ko Ngāpuhi te iwi
Ko Ngāti Toro te hapū
Ko Piki Te Aroha te marae
Ko Damien Anderson ahau
I`m Maori, Samoan — born and raised in South Auckland.
My journey once moved through addiction, loss, and brokenness.
Today, it moves through faith, restoration, and purpose.
My recovery is more than sobriety — it is redemption.
It is learning to walk again with dignity, to rebuild what was torn down and to stand as the father and man my whanau can rely on.
As a Community Mentor, I now walk alongside others who are ready to rebuild their lives and reconnect with their families. Together, we draw strength from identity, accountability, and faith — guiding one another toward healing, hope, and renewed purpose.
With lived experience in mental health and addiction, I’ve learned that healing begins the moment a person feels truly seen, heard, and believed in. My role is not to fix anyone. My role is to stand with them — to remind them that even the hardest stories can be rewritten.
Ko au tenei.
In the end, I am simply a father who was once lost but found redemption in Christ.
No story is too broken to rebuild.
“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” — (Luke 15:24)
Community Mentor
our FACILITATORS:
Sionatane Lea`aemanu
MY STORY - From Cycles of Harm to a Life of Purpose, Leadership & Legacy
I spent far too many years inside the justice system — caught in a world of gangs, crime, and destructive thinking. It was an environment built on broken spirits and unhealthy ideals, and I adapted to it completely. Every offence pulled me deeper. Every nod of approval from criminal peers locked me further into a life I thought I’d never escape.
That lifestyle cost me dearly.
It damaged my relationships, broke trust with the people who loved me, and pushed me into cycles of trauma, denial, and self-sabotage. Even with a supportive family, even with children, even with a loving partner — nothing changed until I accepted that I was the one who had to choose a different path.
Facing long stretches in prison finally forced me to confront myself. I began questioning everything: my choices, my patterns, my reasoning. A quiet knowing — something I used to see as weakness — started to grow inside me. I wanted to change, but I didn’t know how.
THE TURNING POINT
When I walked into Fathers For Families after my last release, I had no plan. No idea where to start. But I did have one commitment. Show up. Keep showing up.And that simple decision became the doorway to transformation.THE TRANSFORMATION
Through FFF’s programme — the old and the new strengthened version — I learned to face my trauma, break harmful thinking, and rebuild myself from the inside out. I discovered what healthy masculinity looks like, what accountability actually means, and how to restore relationships instead of destroy them.My wife and children remained faithful through my journey. Their support grounded me while I learned to show up as a Man, a Husband/Partner, and a Father. Their belief in me helped me become the man I am today.THE RISE INTO LEADERSHIP
I didn’t just complete the programme — I walked the whole pathway:Completed both versions of FFF - Graduated Leadership to Employment - Became a co-facilitator - Grew into a mentorNow lead my own cohorts as a Lead Facilitator, supporting other men walking the path I once crawled through
I am living proof that change is possible — no matter how far you’ve fallen or how deep the patterns run.THE FUTUREI’ve committed myself to Fathers For Families and to the kaupapa that rebuilt my life. I’m here to serve, lead, and help other men rise.TO ANY MAN WHO FEELS STUCKIf you think you’re too far gone — you’re not - If you think change is impossible — it isn’t - if you’re willing to step through the door, FFF will walk with you.Lead Facilitator - Mentor
Iosefa “Joe” Vaana
My Journey
I was born in Western Samoa and raised in Aotearoa from the age of seven. My childhood was shaped by the pressures my parents faced as they tried to adapt to a new culture. Language barriers, cultural shock, and daily survival challenges created emotional strain within our home. Their relationship carried deep trauma, and the weight of that often showed up as conflict and instability.
My father’s work as a head security bouncer exposed him to a lifestyle of alcohol, drugs, and long nights, which eventually influenced our home environment. My mother worked tirelessly as a nurse across multiple jobs, trying to create stability through the things she could provide. But as a child, I often wondered:
Do we need more things — or more time? More appearance — or more presence?
As the eldest of eight, I stepped into the role of protector and caregiver early, long before I understood what responsibility truly meant. Those years shaped my understanding of fear, survival, and family, and many of those patterns followed me into adulthood.
Through Fathers For Families, I finally understood the survival responses that shaped my upbringing — Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn — and how these instincts influenced my parents, myself, and our family dynamics. That awareness has helped turn pain into wisdom and survival into purpose.
Personal Reflection – Fathers For Families
FFF has renewed my mindset and strengthened every part of my life. I have grown not only as a father and grandfather but also as a partner, brother, uncle, and son. One of the greatest lessons has been learning that a father wears many hats — and developing the awareness to know which hat to wear, and when. That understanding has brought more peace, humility, and connection into my relationships.
FFF has grounded my growth in both practical tools and Scripture.
Romans 12:2 reminds us:
“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
And John 17:16 grounds our identity:
“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”
These verses have become anchors for my journey — guiding how I think, act, and lead. They remind me that true transformation begins on the inside, in the renewing of our mind and spirit.
FFF has helped me rediscover clarity, healing, and purpose. My journey is one of resilience, cultural identity, and faith — proving that change is possible for any father who steps forward with courage and humility.
I share my story to offer hope, connection, and truth: no matter where your story begins, transformation is always within reach.
Co-Facilitator
PETER HAYES
Co-Facilitator
MY STORY
our HEALTH & WELLBEING coaches:
Malolelei
NZ Tongan Born | Raised in Australia | Father | Mentor | Health & Well-Being Coach
I was born in Aotearoa to Tongan parents and raised in Australia, where my life was full of potential. For years, things were bright — grounded in family, culture, rugby league, and community. I spent nearly a decade coaching and mentoring young players from ages 6 to 19, and that space became one of the happiest and safest parts of my life.
But as life shifted, I found myself spiralling into darker places. The foundations I thought I had began to crack, and I slipped into patterns that hurt not only me, but the people I loved most. Being a partner and a father — roles that should have been my highest priority — were pushed into the shadows.
THE TURNING POINT
In February 2025, I walked into Fathers For Families as a participant.
I won’t sugar-coat it — at the time, I was only there to fill a Court requirement.
But everything changed in one lesson.
That first session opened my eyes to things I had ignored for years — my triggers, my trauma, my spiralling patterns, and the emotional noise I had been carrying alone. Questions I had never been able to answer suddenly had clarity.
Even then, trust was a struggle. I’d had mine broken too many times. But I stayed.
Something in me knew I needed this change — not just for me, but for my two beautiful children. My healing became part of the legacy I want to leave them.
THE TRANSFORMATION
As I continued through the programme, I began catching myself - Owning my faults - Understanding my reactions - Breaking the cycles that once controlled me.
The FFF team supported me with honesty, accountability, and genuine belief. That allowed me to step into spaces I once avoided — including leadership. By Term 2, I had progressed from participant to co-facilitator. That shift alone taught me that transformation isn’t just possible — it’s powerful.
THE WORK I DO NOW
Today, I stand confidently as FFF’s Health & Wellbeing Coach and Facilitator, bringing my years of rugby league coaching into a new purpose. The gym, the field, and our Walk-the-Talk sessions have become spaces where I help men reconnect with discipline, brotherhood, healing, and emotional strength. With a new mindset, I’m not afraid of the old triggers that used to control me. Instead, I meet men where they’re at — because I’ve stood where they stand.
THE QUOTE I LIVE BY
“If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got.”
I carry that line everywhere — into every class, every gym session, every walk, and every conversation I lead.
MY JOURNEY CONTINUES
My life now is a spiritual and healing walk. I’m becoming a better man, a better partner, and a better father — one step at a time. And I’m committed to helping other men find the courage to do the same.
Lead Health & Wellbeing Coach & Facilitator
SE`ULA AITU
PIRINIHA “Prince” BRADLEY
Co-Health & Wellbeing Coach
My Journey Back to My Mana
Cook Islands / Maori – Otara, South Auckland
I was born and raised in Otara – the home of the brave. My roots are Cook Islands and Māori, and my identity has always been shaped by the strength and struggle of South Auckland. Growing up, life wasn’t easy. My thinking patterns were all over the place, my emotions were hard to control, and I found myself stuck in cycles that took me deeper into the justice system.
For years, I was in and out of prisons - For years, my babies had to see their father behind bars - For years, I told myself I didn’t care — but the truth was, I didn’t know how to care.
My mental health was slipping, my spirit was tired, and my mindset was locked in a place that kept pulling me back to the same harmful choices. I wasted time — time I can never get back — sitting in cells instead of being with my kids. I didn’t understand the damage. I didn’t understand the emptiness I was creating for myself and for the people who loved me.
Then everything changed.
One day, my emotions overwhelmed me. I made another reckless decision — another carving, another moment of chaos — but this time I walked away hurt, broken, and defeated. I hit rock bottom. And in that lowest place, when I had given up on life, my whānau stepped in once again. My mother, my family, my friends… and most importantly, my kids. They became my rescue.
Their words still echo inside me: “Dad, get it together - Grow up - Stop doing silly stuff - Start thinking of us - Start being there for us.”
Hearing my babies talk to me like that crushed me — but in the best possible way. It cracked open something inside. It was the moment my heart shifted, the moment I realised my story didn’t have to end the way it was going. When I was released from jail, I knew I needed to change — not just for myself, but for my children who still believed in me. That’s when I found Fathers For Families.
Walking into FFF was the beginning of a new journey. I came in with an open mind, ready to learn, ready to unlearn, and ready to rebuild. What I found was more than a programme — I found a brotherhood, a safe space, and a support system that wrapped around me completely.
FFF didn’t judge me - They walked with me - They taught me tools to manage my emotions, understand my triggers, and reshape the way I think - They helped me reconnect with my wairua, my identity, my responsibility as a father, and the legacy I want to build.
I started spending more time listening instead of reacting - More time connecting with my kids instead of pushing them away - More time being present — something I hadn’t been able to do for a long time.
Slowly, I felt something return: My Mana.
I’m proud of where I am now — not because I’m perfect, but because I’m committed. Every day I try to lead with empathy, compassion, and a positive mindset. I am focused on creating new memories with my kids, rebuilding trust with my whanau, and surrounding myself with good people who want to see me win.
I’m on a new journey — one built on love, accountability, and a future I’m actually excited about - My babies can look at me now and see a father who is present, consistent, and growing - I’ve come a long way, and I’m not done yet.
My mana is restored - My purpose is clear - And this is only the beginning.