Mele is Tongan, born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, with ancestral roots in the villages of Pangai and Tungua in Ha’apai (father’s side) and ‘Utungake, Vava’u, and Ma’ufanga, Tongatapu (mother’s side). She is currently on secondment from the Insights team, bringing a wealth of experience in data insights. Prior to joining Hanga Aro Rau, Mele was part of the Census team at Stats NZ.

With a strong background in community development, data insights, and workshop facilitation, Mele has worked across both tertiary and central government sectors. She is an active board member for two schools and a passionate advocate for Pacific voices, striving to ensure meaningful engagement with Pacific families and communities.

Mele is committed to community service through her involvement in school sports, school boards, PTAs, Sunday school teaching, and facilitating Pacific family networks at local schools. Mele is a wife and mother of four young children, she is also passionate about preserving traditional Tongan crafts, supporting and spending time with her elderly mother and finding creative ways of keeping weekends and school holidays ‘screen-free’.