My Mission
A bit about me
Kia ora, fakaalofa atu, hi!
I descend from a small but beautiful pacific Island, called Niue, but have had the privilege of growing up right here in beautiful Aotearoa, New Zealand. I am the eldest of four and am in absolute love with my niece - the little grumpy bum in the middle of that photo. Haha. I have two fur-babies Kye (GSD) and coco (maincoon/tabby) and my kitchen is actually green!
I have been active almost all my life but my passion for health and fitness started when I was around 14 years old. I was blessed to have grown up with a positive influence on food as my parents were very inclusive of all foods - especially traditional Niuean food. They encouraged me and my siblings to be active and to get involved in all sports, but most importantly, they never associated our food and activity choices with how we looked. This is something I will always be grateful for because that allowed me to develop an open, educated, and all-around inclusive perspective of balanced nutrition and training. Thanks, mum and dad!
I am open to all adventures but I love a good WOD and Les Mills Grit sesh. I also love all foods except kale and I especially love getting creative in the kitchen.
My Inspiration
In most cultures, food is at the core. In mine, food is a gesture of love, gratitude, hospitality, and a means of fellowship.
You can 100% guarantee that any big or small event includes a massive spread; birthdays, hair-cutting and ear-piercing ceremonies, graduations, and even funerals. Every Sunday after church, the elders would put on an "island cup of tea", which was far from tea and biscuits. When I go and visit family or friends I always make sure to take a big plate of something to share, regardless of the occasion.
As I grew up, surrounded by my village, what stood out to me the most was how big plates were piled up, the amount of carb and fat-heavy dishes that were on offer, and the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables - not to mention, how high risk to lifestyle-related disease many family members were. I also slowly became aware of the impact of income and access to healthy food had on many families' health and well-being.
It's no secret that Pacific Islander and Māori communities make up the majority of Aotearoa's statistics relating to lifestyle related diseases such as diabetes and obesity. So, hopefully what I have experienced and learned so far will help inspire and equip these communities to make healthier choices, so that our lives become more than just a statistic.
My childhood and cultural experiences have inspired me to enable people, families, and communities to make more balanced choices around food without compromising their cultural and family customs. Everyone is entitled to the means of being healthy; it really is a privilege to access resources that allow a healthier lifestyle but it should not be a privilege to be healthy...ever!
Please use and share the resources provided in this space so that everyone can have a chance at building a healthier lifestyle that will continue from generation to generation.
Nga mihi nui, fakaaue lahi, cheers!