The team at Vision Pacific, including our Board, are all persons with disabilities. We’re called Vision Pacific because we have a vision of the Pacific as a place which is inclusive of persons with disability.

We’re proud to tell you about our team and the diverse experience we each bring to the organisation.

Check back regularly as we add more biographical information for our team.

Tewai Halatau

Tewai Halatau

Born in Rotorua, the seventh of ten children, Tewai is a Maori of the Tuhourangi, Te Arawa tribe.

Tewai attended a special school for the blind until she was mainstreamed at Manurewa High School. She met her now husband, Latoa, while at high school.

Tewai has studied computer programming, took some university papers with a view to undertaking a law degree, but instead gained a diploma in applied social studies. In 1998 Tewai graduated with an Executive MBA.

Tewai and Latoa founded Vision Pacific Trust in 1998 as a vehicle to pursue their passion for disability development for the benefit of persons with disabilities in the Pacific region. This vision for all peoples is the origin of the name Vision Pacific.

For the last 30 years, Tewai has been a leader in disability development in the Pacific Region. She was one of the founding members of the Pacific Disability Forum, and served as its Co-Chair from 2003 through 2009.

Tewai competed in regional track and field events, and won a bronze in the discus at the 1980 Paralympics.

Her interests include soul/R&B music, and dining out with friends.

Latoa Halatau

Latoa Halatau MNZM

Latoa was born in Niue Island, Hakupu village, and was one of 10 children.

He moved to New Zealand at the age of eight.

Latoa became vision impaired when he was in the 4th form at Hilary College playing rugby. That meant he was then enrolled at what was in 1970 called Homai College, a boarding school for blind and partially sighted students. There he met Tewai, to whom he has been Married for over 30 years.

Latoa has been working in the disability support sector for over 30 years in a range of capacities. These include social work, rehabilitation and community development, and DPO capacity building.

Latoa has been a leader in disability development in the Pacific Region, in particular as one of the founding members of the Pacific Disability Forum. He was the Co-Chair of the PDF from 2011 to 2015, a position to which he was re-elected this year.

He is currently serving on the national Leadership group established to advise the Government on how to transform the New Zealand Disability Support system in a co-development approach with Government and Persons with disabilities, Families and   service providers.

In August 2015, Latoa received the Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for service to the blind and Pacific community.