Tula'i – Co-Creating Solutions Through a Past, Present, Future Approach
Tula'i is a leading Pasifika youth development organisation that empowers young people to lead, fostering strong Pacific communities. It achieves measurable impact by equipping Pasifika youth with leadership tools and opportunities, directly contributing to positive intergenerational outcomes and community prosperity.
Tula'i aims to strengthen and support Pasifika communities in West Auckland to flourish through empowering leadership. It operates collaboratively to best support Pasifika people and believes in utilising the "it takes a village" approach. Tula'i draws on the strengths of those in its community, those who have gone before, and those who are to come.
In keeping with this ethos, Tula'i has developed the “What IF” PPF (Past, Present, Future) Impact Forums to create a safe space for groups that represent different perspectives and generations to discuss important issues in the community and possible solutions. The aim has been to develop a model that is consistent with Pasifika practices to co-create solutions based on the issues discussed.
“The “What IF” PPF Impact Forums have had a profound impact on elevating community voice within West Auckland's Pasifika community with an intention to consider differing perspectives that could identify common themes, and become a platform for effective change. For the first time, three generational cohorts (elders, present leaders, and emerging youth) were intentionally brought together to talanoa on local community issues, aspirations, and values. It was a privilege and a pleasure to be able to hold space for rich talanoa within our community,” says Tanya Zombos, General Manager at Tula'i.
Some of the most positive outcomes include:
Collective desire to see change was identified by all cohorts, not just in the midst of the talanoa sessions, but there was an outflow into workplaces and relationships that were forged within the forums.
Creation of safe cultural spaces for open talanoa where Pasifika voices felt heard and valued.
Increased intergenerational connections, with common key themes being identified as areas that all generations want to see positive shifts in, with similar potential initiatives to help address some of the challenges within the Pasifika community.
Practical initiatives emerging from each cohort, such as community-led responses around education, youth development, cultural knowledge transmission, and family wellbeing through traditional Pasifika values in a modern context.
Development of a values-based vision board, visually capturing the collective hopes, wisdom, and solutions across generations.
“We are most proud of how the Forums upheld Pacific values such as alofa, tauhi vā, tautua, and manaakitanga – not just in theory but in real practice. This mahi has strengthened a sense of unity, belonging, and momentum for positive change,” says Tanya.
Of course, new approaches will inevitably strike some challenges and this mahi is no different. Things like coordinating availability to come together when participants all had differing responsibilities and commitments; managing intergenerational obstacles so that authentic talanoa could occur by holding space for all age groups in a way that respects each worldview within a Pacific context; and resource constraints which meant that the small Tula’i team had to be strategic in its planning, relying on trusted networks and leaders, and community partnerships to support delivery. All of these challenges required a sensitive and agile approach.
We asked Tanya what was next in terms of future plans for this kaupapa.
“We plan to continue holding more workshops with our original working group to co-design some of the identified key programmes of work that could improve outcomes for Pasifika in West Auckland. Our first initiative to be born of the forums is a Pasifika Teachers Collective Training and Networking Event that is in the planning stages at present – watch this space! Throughout our forums and our continued mahi, more opportunities have been identified to strengthen Pasifika community outcomes that we aim to evolve into tools and programmes based on the feedback receive, and we hope that these initiatives could serve as replicable opportunities beyond West Auckland” she says.
In order to do this, Tula’i intends to:
seek investment to support programme development, storytelling, and action-based pilots stemming from the forum ideas (e.g., mentorships, culture revitalisation spaces, familia programmes, and community-led solutions in health, education, and social services)
develop a Pacific values-led framework for impact across West Auckland that can guide future projects, youth development, and local service design
build a digital resource hub to share insights and tools more widely.
“The PPF Impact Forums have reaffirmed that Pasifika-led solutions work best when rooted in our values, our stories, and our relationships. This kaupapa is not a project with an end – it is the continuation of ancestral wisdom meeting the needs of our time. We’re grateful to our elders, emerging leaders, and all who participated for their courage, vulnerability, and belief in our collective future,” says Tanya.