5 mins with Tima Hunt
Who are you and what do you do?
Talofa lava, my name is Tima, and I’m the Manager of Social Services at The Fono, a Pasifika Health and Social Services Organisation based in Tāmaki Makaurau. I lead a team that supports whānau and individuals who are facing different challenges in their lives. I’ve been with The Fono for about 10 years now. I started off as a frontline worker in the family violence space, over time I’ve taken on a few different roles — including Family Start worker, team leader for our Family Violence services, and Project Lead for Youth services. When the opportunity came up to lead the social services team, I thought I’d give it a go — and here I am.
How did you get started in your mahi?
My journey into social work is quite personal. Going through my own challenges taught me resilience and helped me really understand what others might be going through. I’ve always believed that if I’ve been able to get through tough times, then I can support others or someone else who might have faced similar challenges to do the same. I think this was always my calling, to help people, and I’m exactly where I need to be.
What inspires you in your day-to-day mahi?
I’m inspired every day by the resilience of the whānau we work with. Even though I’m not always seeing the changes first-hand anymore, hearing about the positive impact our team is making really keeps me going. I also draw a lot of inspiration from the leadership within our organisation; their dedication and vision push me to be better in my own leadership. Ultimately, what inspires me most is being able to serve others by showing up, being present, and empowering people.
What have you found the greatest challenge professionally?
One of the biggest challenges is working with limited resources while the needs in our community keep growing. It can be really tough navigating systems that don’t always meet the needs of our Pacific communities.
There’s also that balance between providing immediate support and working towards long-term solutions, which isn’t always easy. But I’ve found that building strong relationships and working alongside other organisations, agencies really helps us push through some of those barriers.
What has been your greatest joy professionally?
For me, one of the greatest joys is being able to work in a Pasifika organisation and give back to my own community. I feel really blessed to be in a position where I can make a difference. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing a family reach their goals, or watching a child succeed despite everything they’ve faced. Knowing we’ve played even a small part in that journey, that’s what it’s all about. I also get a lot of joy from seeing my team grow and thrive. Supporting them to do their best work and make a real impact in the community is a constant reminder of why I’m in this space.
Do you have any tools that you find particularly helpful in your mahi?
One of the most valuable tools we use is our Integrated Model of Care. It’s underpinned by the principles that form the heart of The Fono. It’s a Pacific-centred, holistic approach that places whānau at the centre and helps us provide culturally grounded, personalised, and integrated support. The Fono Integrated Model of Care guides the way we work: building trust, understanding the wider needs of families, and connecting them with the right support to achieve better long-term outcomes.
