Tunumafono Avaula Colenso Fa’amoe of Auckland, MNZM for services to the Pacific community and health
Tunumafono Avaula Colenso Fa’amoe lost his sight at the age of 20 due to a rare eye condition. He completed a degree in Counselling and established the Pacific Information Advocacy and Support Services Trust (PIASS) with a group of disabled Pacific people. PIASS collaborated with the Malologa Trust (Pacific Mental Health) to form Vaka Tautua, a health and social service provider for Pacific people, of which Mr Fa’amoe is now Chairman. He was an elected member of the Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board. He chaired the Otara Community Board and is a board member of the Otara Law Centre. He is a founding member of Tofa Mamao, the Pacific Disability Collective.