Lorna (Lotofagā, A’ufaga, Papa i Puleia & Afega) and Fa’alafitele Zondervan Fa’alafi (Sāfune, Fasito’o Tai, Apia & Faleasi’u) are passionate about strengthening Sāmoan cultural identity. Lorna, born and raised in Avondale, New Zealand, is a trained Primary School Teacher, teaching in NZ and in Sāmoa. She completed a Bachelor of Education, Primary Teaching in 2002 and a Master’s in social and Community Leadership (First class honours) in 2024 from the University of Auckland. Her research thesis articulates ‘The positive influence of Siva Sāmoa on ethnic identity for second and third-generation Sāmoans living in Aotearoa’. She served on the Pasifika Advisory Group at Dilworth Boys Senior School and worked as Team Lead for the Schools & Community Liaison at MIT & Unitec for 7 years. Lorna has taught Siva Sāmoa for three decades from leader and tutor of Auckland Girls Grammar School Polyfest Samoan Group to various community projects.

Fa’alafitele Zondervan was born and raised in Samoa. A son of Methodist church ministers he has lived in different countries and understands Sāmoan culture within church contexts. A graduate in Biblical Studies at Laidlaw College Fa’alafitele Zondervan is passionate about empowering people and building strong, thriving communities. He worked as Place Manager for the Auckland Council Connected Communities Unit designing and creating programmes to meet the needs of Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board residents.