Staff
Our diverse team of young professional youth workers and social workers have all come through our programme during their high school years and have a deep and intimate knowledge of our schools, communities, students needs and their huge potential. Our coordinators provide a consistent example and ongoing emotional and practical support for our vibrant young people.
Alex Tarrant
General Manager
Alex Tarrant is the General Manager of The Rising Foundation and is responsible for supporting the team to guide their personal and professional development. Also continually improving the structure, processes and service provision to ensure that we give our very best to support the students, families, schools and communities we serve.
Donna Rogers
Programme Administrator
Hello, my name is Donna Rogers and I’ve been with TRF since May 2012. I’ve lived in Papakura most of my life, apart from the kiwi OE experience for three years which I absolutely loved and would recommend to any young adult. I attended the local schools being; Papakura Intermediate and Papakura High.
Tiare Matara
Employment Pathways Manager
Kia ora whanau, my name is Tiare Matara and I am the Employment Pathways Manager. I am also a proud Mother to my beautiful daughter Lilo Nu’u. Our services named “Transition 2” prepares our young people for post-schooling opportunities. Our service aims to equip students with a motivation to turn their dreams into a reality.
Jordan Tanielu
Programme Coordinator
Hi my name is Jordan Tanielu, I am 24 years old and I am a TRF Programme Coordinator based in Manurewa High School. I was born and raised in Papakura and moved to Otara in 2010, so you could say I know South Auckland really well. As well as working full time, I am currently studying for my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
Programme Coordinator
Malo le soifua maua ma le lagi e mamā
Talofa lava, my name is Aviata Tanielu and I am a graduate of The Rising Foundation programme from the 2014 cohort of Papakura High School. I also have the great privilege of being the TRF Programme Coordinator for Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in The Promised Land of South Auckland, Otara.
Aviata Tanielu
Alex Tarrant
General Manager
Alex Tarrant is the General Manager of The Rising Foundation and is responsible for supporting the team to guide their personal and professional development. Also continually improving the structure, processes and service provision to ensure that we give our very best to support the students, families, schools and communities we serve.
Donna Rogers
Office Administrator
Hello, my name is Donna Rogers and I’ve been with TRF since May 2012. I’ve lived in Papakura most of my life, apart from the kiwi OE experience for three years which I absolutely loved and would recommend to any young adult. I attended the local schools being; Papakura Intermediate and Papakura High.
Tiare Matara
Employment Pathways Manager
Kia ora whanau, my name is Tiare Matara and I am the Employment Pathways Manager. I am also a proud Mother to my beautiful daughter Lilo Nu’u. Our services named “Transition 2” prepares our young people for post-schooling opportunities. Our service aims to equip students with a motivation to turn their dreams into a reality.
Jordan Tanielu
Programme Coordinator
Hi my name is Jordan Tanielu, I am 24 years old and I am a TRF Programme Coordinator based in Manurewa High School. I was born and raised in Papakura and moved to Otara in 2010, so you could say I know South Auckland really well. I am currently studying for my Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at Te Wananga o Aotearoa.
Aviata Tanielu
Programme Coordinator
Malo le soifua maua ma le lagi e mamā
Talofa lava, my name is Aviata Tanielu and I am a graduate of The Rising Foundation programme from the 2014 cohort of Papakura High School. I also have the great privilege of being the TRF Programme Coordinator for Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate in The Promised Land of South Auckland, Otara.
Eddie Lepou
Programme Coordinator
Malo e lelei, my name is Eddie Lepou and I am 24 years old. I am a Graduate of The Rising Foundation programme class of 2012. I am very privileged and blessed with the opportunity of becoming the Programme Coordinator for Papakura High School, working along-side Tiare.
Sela Pohiva
Programme Coordinator
Over the last nine years I have transitioned from a student of the programme to a JB Graduate and now to a Programme Coordinator. The Rising has been a prominent source of support in my life, guiding me on a pathway of self-growth and igniting my passion for being of service to others, especially our rangatahi.
Wendy Savieti
T2 Drive Coordinator and Programme Administrator
Kia orana, Malo e lelei
I have been apart of TRF in the capacity of a student, volunteer and staff member dating back to 2013.
I'm a massive believer of serving the communities we were raised in and giving back to family, which is why I believe in the mahi of equipping rangatahi so that they can better serve their own. That's a huge driving factor of why I do what I do with TRF DRIVE and TRF WORK.
Chyqraym Tupuola
Programme Coordinator
Hi my name is Chyqraym Tupuola and I am 21 years old, I graduated The Rising Foundation in 2019 from Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate. I was born and raised in Otara HOME OF THE BRAVE and I was blessed with the opportunity to join TRF and be a programme coordinator at my old high school alongside Aviata Tanielu.
Jazmin Walker
Programme Coordinator
Kia Ora my name is Jazmin Walker, Junior Programme Coordinator at Pukekohe High School. I was a part of the “OG'' group in 2010 who were the first students that got to experience what TRF was all about and graduated in 2013. I was born and raised in Pukekohe and have also spent 7 years of my life Down Under (Australia).
Hola my name is Leo Molina, I was born in Chile and I joined TRF in March 2023. As Communications Coordinator my job is to promote and improve the overall image of the organisation. I want to show NZ how important this family is to support our rangatahi.
Alex Tarrant
Alex Tarrant is the General Manager of The Rising Foundation. He is responsible for supporting the team, guiding their development and improving our structure, processes and service provision to ensure that we give our very best to support the students, families, schools and communities we serve.
Alex is continually integrating relevant, emotional wellbeing themes including the excellent Gem Journey Storytelling process into our comprehensive youth leadership and identity development programme.
Originally from the UK, Alex is married with three children and has lived in New Zealand since 1998. He has a 35 year background in Youth Work has served the South Auckland and Franklin communities as a Registered Social Worker with Oranga Tamariki and Whirinaki (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service).
Donna Rogers
My background is in banking and I left school after finishing Form 7 (Year 13) at 18 years old, to work full-time at ANZ Bank.
After having two children of my own, my natural instinct is to love babies, children and students. So being asked to work for The Rising Foundation, which started in my home-town, was perfect for me. I’ve seen students start on this programme as a fresh, shy, vulnerable Year 8 or Year 9 and have been privilege to see them graduate as strong, confident, happy Year 13’s. Having attended many camps over the years, it warms my heart that these students have huge potential and it’s our charity which is showing them that there’s more to life outside of South Auckland and that they can become the best they can at what they love doing. Giving them a hand up, rather than a hand out is a really important message and plays an essential part of our programme.
My role as a Programme Administrator is completing all administration duties that need to be carried out for our not-for-profit organisation. This job is varied and covers a wide range of responsibilities from; Trustee Board Secretary, a member of the fundraising committee, handling payroll, finance, assisting Programme Coordinators with organising camps, camp Mother and Nurse, meeting new sponsors, creating new funding applications, processing audit reports, website maintenance and more. This role is a crucial part of our charity, which I love.
Tiare Matara
As dismissive as cliches can be, we do hope to capture their vocational aspirations and pathway them with industry professionals.
Here are a few great things I love about The Rising Foundation;
Amazing support – Sir Michael Fay & Lady Sarah Fay are both generous supporters. They have given me the financial freedom & utmost faith to complete my studies, which they sponsored. Lady Sarha Fay is also serving on our Board of Trustees.
We see results in how our students behave, what our students achieve, and in how they treat themselves and each other. We witness huge shifts in how they respond to difficult situations in their life, and transformation in who they aspire to be. This growth is just as valuable as our performance targets.
You naturally build a love for witnessing any type of growth from your students and JB graduates over the years which are valuable to TRF.
The most integral part of this role is that we genuinely care about every single individual we work with. Joining The Rising Foundation had a pivotal impact in my life as a student and now as a staff member.
Gideon Rihari
Through the generosity of John and Diane Bongard, I have now completed my Biculturalism Social Work Degree with Te Wananga o Aotearoa. I was a 2012 graduate from Papakura High School and have been a part of TRF family since 2010. Since the time I joined, I have come to understand that TRF is more than just a leadership and character development programme, it is also whanau. Students are encouraged to come as they are and learn more about fundamental life principles, which will keep them grounded as they journey through High School and on into their adult life. It is my privilege to be in the position I am and will continue to support young people just as I was supported on my journey.
Jordan Tanielu
Contact Details
jordan@therisingfoundation.co.nz
021 081 73240
My journey with The Rising Foundation began in 2010. My time as a student with TRF was extremely helpful not only academically, but socially and spiritually as well. TRF helped me to do a full 180° turn with my behaviour and attitude towards everything I do, ultimately it helped me find my true identity.
TRF has also helped me open my eyes and see that the world is a much bigger place than South Auckland. TRF took us students and also brought our families along to places like Taupo and the Coromandel which really brought our families closer together. What I also love about The Rising Foundation is that they teach and give you tools that you will need as a young adult stepping out into the ‘real world’ that you wouldn’t normally learn in school i.e. How to write a CV, how to make a plan and have a vision for your future, how to run events like fundraisers and how to present yourself in an interview.
It warms my heart knowing that there are programmes like this that really do care about our youth and families and make a practical difference in their lives. The Rising Foundation has helped me to build my character as an individual. TRF has also equipped me with the appropriate tools and knowledge to collaborate passionately, to encourage and teach our future leaders, so that they can do and be anything they desire to be.
Aviata Tanielu
When I joined TRF as a student back in 2011, I would never have guessed the major impact it would have on me as a young, Pasefika student. One of the most memorable teachings that I can remember would have to be the ‘King of the Jungle’ principle. The Lion is deemed the King of the jungle, purely based upon its own understanding that even though it is not the largest, tallest, strongest or even most fearful animal in the kingdom, what separates it from the rest of the animals and elevates it to kingly status is its ATTITUDE. This lesson has really helped me to think about the way I apply myself to any situation despite the flaws and downfalls, always striving to have the best possible attitude and outlook on life.
It is the impact of these teachings, opportunities, examples and relationships that I have experienced over the years of being a part of TRF that I desire to pass on to our TRF students. I have high hopes that the significance of this programme, will continue to be relevant and fruitful for the youth of today.
Soifua ma ia manuia,
Fa’afetai,
Aviata Tanielu
Shani Apelu
I fully immersed myself in the TRF programme in my final year at Pukekohe High School in 2017, but I had always known about the programme since Year 9 as my friend regularly attended the programme.
There’s so many aspects to the programme, but what I’ve always appreciated is the unconditional love that the team gives to the students. There’s such a unique intimacy about the bonds that are created and despite coming from all different walks of life, for the moment you all share the same path. In that one year, I found myself growing through other TRF members and I treasure the many relationships that I made.
So now I get the privilege to walk along with so many others on their journeys and join with this amazing team. Everyone does their part and go beyond to make The Rising possible. I have so much to learn and I look forward to what lies ahead.
Eddie Lepou
I have been a part of The Rising Foundation since 2010 while attending Papakura High School and I am pleased to see that the programme is still going strong. Joining The Rising Foundation was one of the best decisions I made back in high school. The bonds of friendship and the family ‘vibe’ that was created over the years is something I’ll forever be grateful for.
The Rising has taken me on a journey of self-discovery and helped me to become aware of the potential that I had within me. Today I can say that The Rising Foundation has helped me and equipped me with the right tools to get me where I am today and to be the person I have become.
Prior to joining The Rising Foundation, I was employed by Department of Corrections at the Men’s prison in Wiri. I just always wished I could do more to help rehabilitate the men back into society. So bringing my experience from the prison and sharing with students, will hopefully be an eye opener and a reminder to them that this place is real and this is where people go, when the wrong choices and decisions are made.
I just have this mind-set that if I can at least share what I know and what I’ve seen, this could influence change in our students thinking so it won’t be too late for them. It’s a privilege to be employed by The Rising Foundation and being a part of the students’ journeys. I am very blessed to be working alongside the amazing TRF team. Fa’afetai Lava.
Wendy Savieti
My parents come from the beautiful Pacific Islands of Tonga and the Cook-Islands. I am the 4th eldest of 47 grandchildren from my Mother’s side and number 15 of 32 grandchildren on my Father’s side. Coming from such a massive family I realise the importance of planting seeds of influence and the positive effect we can have on our families.
Over the years, I believe the influence of The Rising Foundation has enriched me with strong principles of self-belief and empathy for others, which were cleverly reinforced by lots of challenging and fun activities. I have gained a great sense of self-awareness through my involvement with the programme. I am excited now to see how our young people move into the world of work having gained those qualities too. In my role, I’m most looking forward to watching our young students develop good driving skills in order to gain their drivers licence.
Sela Pohiva
Mālō e lelei! My name is Sela Pohiva. I was raised and have lived in Papakura since I was five years old and I genuinely don’t see
myself living anywhere else. I am now working with The Rising Foundation as a Programme Coordinator at Papakura High School.
The Rising Foundation has been a part of my life since 2014.
Coming from a very big family, I am number six out of 10 children with five sisters, four brothers and plenty of cousins. Within my group of siblings, I am an Aunt to 22 nieces and nephews. My ‘why’ (and my weakness) in life will always be my siblings and little cousins and when I see our youth, I think of them. We grew up with the pressures and strictness that come from being raised in a Pasifika household. I always tried to be the source of comfort, support and protection for my little ones. Now that I have gained more knowledge, experience and have the resources to grow and do more, I aim to do everything I can to support our youth
from similar backgrounds today.
I am a massive advocate for mental health and well-being and aim to create safe spaces for our Māori and Pasifika communities, to bring understanding and promote personal and intergenerational growth among our people. Starting with serving the community that holds a very special place in my heart, South Auckland.
The Rising Foundation is a place where the support and growth never ends and I look forward to now being in amongst that, contributing to the support for our students. Mālō ‘aupito ho’omou fanongo mai kiate au. ‘Ofa ke Tapuaki’i ki mou tolu ‘ehe ‘Otua. ‘Ofa lahi atu.
Chyqraym Tupuola
When I joined The Rising Foundation in high school 2017 it changed my view of life completely, it taught me values and skills that you wouldn’t learn in everyday school life and that’s what drew me to the programme. Now that I am a staff member I get a different view on the programme, I see all the hard work that goes into planning and preparing for meeting and camps, all the background work that I never saw as a student and it has made me even more grateful for the work that is being done here. I’ve only just joined the team this year and they have been the absolute best.
Contact Details
chyqr@therisingfoundation.co.nz
027 300 0160
Maia Tipu
After school, I worked part time at a few stepping stone jobs, while continuing to attend TRF camps as a JB volunteer. Now that I’m working with the team, I’ve been fortunate enough to see the programme from another perspective, and learnt to appreciate it that much more. Over the years, TRF has been a massive influence in my life. I’ve gained so many valuable life skills, core memories and life long
friends from the programme. I was taught from both the camps and in school meetings things I wasn’t able to learn in regular school
classes. How to reach your full potential, facing challenges head on,
and to take up any opportunity that’s given to you. Life after school
can be a really daunting environment, but the team has always been
behind me and is a massive support system to me even after graduating.
I’m grateful for the programme as a whole, but it’s really the people
and the team who bring it all together! I’m excited to meet the new
generations that are coming through, and I’m so grateful to be a part
of it.
Contact Details
maia@therisingfoundation.co.nz
022 171 0090
Jazmin Walker
My junior years at Puke High were not the best but thanks to TRF they helped turn my life around. I give a lot of praise to TRF for giving me the tools I needed to get me through life and helped me achieve big things. They've helped me to find my identity and giving me a purpose. The adventures and experiences I had with TRF were some of my best memories. One of my favourite memories from TRF would be when we got to jump off the Auckland Harbour Bridge. At the time my biggest fear was heights and I refused to jump but thanks to my friends, peers, leaders and staff they encouraged and hyped me up. I had to overcome one of my biggest fears, it made me so proud and I felt that sense of accomplishment like I could do anything, Honestly I would do it all over again if I could. My family never had money to do these sorts of things so I am very grateful for these opportunities.
My mum has been a big inspiration as to why I have a passion for our people and our communities. I’ve always been involved alongside my mum in my community helping with holiday programmes, whanau day’s, community events, community gardens, cleaning graffiti and youth groups. Our Maori and Pasifika people rarely get to unlock their full potential, be adventurous and usually this is due to financial circumstances and not getting the support they need. So from me this is my opportunity to give back to the next generation that will eventually lead the generation after.
Contact Details
jaz@therisingfoundation.co.nz
022 534 5560
Leo Molina
I found out about The Rising Foundation four years ago and immediately admired and appreciated the work the team were doing with South Auckland youth. Seeing how they help the students transition into adulthood and giving them the emotional support they need to realise the true potential they have moving forward.
I personally struggled with my studies and had to work really hard to not only pass my classes while trying to learn the language and adapt to the culture around me. Hearing about The Rising Foundation made me wish I had the support of a charity such as this one, to help me through my intermediate and high school years. I can happily say that my parents were my "Rising Foundation" at the time and that’s what this organisation can be for its students. A role model for them to look up to and come to for advice and guidance.
I have committed my time and skills to TRF and its students. I am super excited to continue this journey of helping youth to be the best versions of themselves and “Unlocking their Potential”
