Tofilau Bernadette Pereira, National President of PACIFICA INC was recently recognised on
the Queens Birthday Honours List and appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of
Merit (MNZM) for her services to the Pacific community and women.
“I am so humbled and very appreciative to receive this award – “E le sili le ta’i i lo le tapua’i,
it’s a real honour and acknowledgement of the many women who have inspired, mentored,
supported me and those I’ve worked with up to this point in time. That includes my family,
friends, colleagues, my PACIFICA INC family and the wider Pasefika community, “ said
Tofilau.
Tofilau paid special tribute to her mother and grandmother, and the women in her family who
themselves were leaders and role models who instilled in her values of family, faith and
community as she was growing up in Samoa.
“I learnt skills of the trade from my grandmother who I followed around in the village and
saw how she was a strong voice and how she worked hard to organise and improve the
quality of life for women, families, the villagers, in her role in the Komiti o tina/tama’ita’i
(Womens committee) and as the matriarch in our extended family. She was definitely a
force to be reckoned with, ” Tofilau added.
“So you see from a young age and throughout my life I have been quite fortunate to be
around and connected to some very brave and inspiring women who have helped me in
pursuit of my own dreams and aspirations. Also I have had the opportunity to give back and
work collectively with others to support and strengthen other women, families, and
communities at large over the years on a personal and professional level. It’s been a
privilege and a rewarding experience. This honour is for all my Pasefika sisters,” Tofilau
added.
Tofilau has worked with Pasefika communities in the private and public sector for the past 30
years. She is a graduate from University of Canberra and was bestowed the matai title of
Tofilau by her family two years ago at Iva Savaii. Tofilau has been the National President of
PACIFICA INC since being elected in 2017 and is currently serving a second term.
Other PACIFICA INC members, current and past, who were honoured were Afamasaga
Agnes Rasmussen who received a Queens Service Medal (QSM) for her services to
education and the Pasefika community. Afamasaga is a veteran member of PACIFICA INC
and a Life member of the Manukau branch. She has worked in the education sector for
more than 50 years and is currently teaching at St Mary McKillop Catholic Church school in
Mangere. (Bio attached) Aseta Redican a founding PACIFICA INC member was also
appointed as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to
health and Pacific peoples. (Bio attached) Lita Foliaki a former National Secretary of
PACIFICA INC was also made an Honorary member of the NZ Order of Merit for her
services to the Pacific community. (Bio attached)

ENDS Contact: Malia Tua’i Manuleleua, National Communications Officer, PACIFICA INC, Ph: 027 404 7239 Email:
pacificaexec@gmail.com, www. pacifica.org.nz

Bios from Queens Honours List 2020

Member of New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)
PEREIRA, TOFILAU BERNADETTE BARBARA
For services to women and Pacific community
Tofilau Bernadette has been a Community Development Practitioner for more than 30 years,
working with and for communities to strengthen their capacity for community engagement.
She was the inaugural President of the P.A.C.F.I.C.A Manukau Branch from 2013 to 2016
and the National Council of Women Manukau Branch from 2001 to 2005.
She was the Pacific region’s youth representative on the governing body of the
Commonwealth Youth Programme for three years.
She represented the Pacific countries and territories for four years at the United Nations
Commission on the Status of Women and led the largest delegation of Pacific women to the
UN Fourth World Global Conference in 1995.
Tofilau Bernadette has She currently volunteers for the Cultural Advisory Committee of the
Pacific Medical Association, the Korean Positive Ageing Charitable Trust.
volunteered for JOY International Folk Dancing and Social Services, the Auckland Catholic
Diocese (Youth), and for the families and children of prisoners”

Queens Service Medal (QSM)
RASMUSSEN, Afamasaga Agnes
-For services to education and the Pacific community
Afamasaga Agnes Rasmussen has been involved with the education and community service
sectors for more than 50 years.
Afamasaga Agnes has taught at primary, intermediate, and secondary levels, and is
currently a teacher at St Mary McKillop Catholic School in Mangere. She has been a
committee member of St Theresa’s Catholic Church for the past 52 years and was a
founding member of the Mangere Writers’ Group in 2017. She has organised seminars and
training sessions for Sunday School teachers for Samoan Catholic Schools in Auckland. She
has been a member of the Post Primary Teachers Association’s Multicultural Education
Advisory Committee and the Hillary Commission Women’s Task Force for Recreation and
Sport. She has volunteered for PACIFICA Inc. for more than 40 years and is a Life Member
of the Manukau branch. Afamasaga Agnes has volunteered to provide training and English
lessons to new Samoan migrants in Auckland and was the first Pacific woman to be
appointed to the Social Welfare Commission.

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)
REDICAN, Mrs Aseta
For services to health and Pacific peoples
Mrs Aseta Redican’s career and community service has focused on improving health and
wellbeing outcomes for Pacific communities.
Mrs Redican is a founding member of PACIFICA and the National Council of Samoan
Women in New Zealand. She established the Pacific Island Church Groups’ Information
Project, an innovative initiative fostering stronger connections between Pacific communities
and the health sector. Her extensive experience includes being the first General Manager of
Pacific Health for the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) from 2001 until her retirement
in 2009. In this role she established a Pacific Health Advisory Committee to the ADHB, two
Pacific-led Primary Health Organisations, the Parish Nursing Pilot, and the Healthy Village
Action Zones Pacific Community Development Initiative that still operates today. She was
the first Pacific person to become a New Zealand-qualified physiotherapist. In 1991, she led
the establishment of the new Pacific Island Heartbeat programme, under the National Heart
Foundation. In this role, she worked within Pacific communities to encourage and support
healthy lifestyles. Following her retirement, Mrs Redican spent years as a Board member of
the Fred Hollows Foundation, Spectrum Care Trust and a Director of the National Heart
Foundation.

Honorary member of MNZM
FOLIAKI, Ms Lita
For services to the Pacific community
Ms Lita Foliaki has made a major contribution to the development and empowerment of
Pacific communities both regionally and nationally.
Ms Foliaki has been Pacific Planning and Funding Manager at the Waitemata District Health
Board since 2004. She developed the Enua Ola Programme, a healthy diet and activity
initiative promoted through Pacific Churches and community groups and has also
contributed to the areas of diabetes, cancer, mental health, immunisation, disabilities and
bowel screening. She has contributed to strategies for Pacific Families with the Ministry of
Social Development including cultural competency, family violence, social work practices
and child safety. She was National Funding Manager for Pacific Health under the Health
Funding Agency from 1997 to 2001. She was Chair of the Expert Panel which developed the
Pacific Health Research Guidelines for the Health Research Council from 2001 to 2004. She
has been an adviser for the Ministry of Health Pacific Provider Development Scheme, which
funds initiatives to grow the Pacific health workforce. She helped establish Vaka Tautua, the
first accredited Pacific Disability Provider in 2000. Ms Foliaki founded Heilala in 1989, a
Tongan women’s group in Auckland, focusing on grassroots education and welfare
programmes, and has been Secretary of Pacifica Women's national group.