Why Pacific voices make governance stronger

Panel Discussion

Speaker(s): Hon Munokoa Poto Williams, Levaula Kim Masina, Pauline-Jean Luyten, Dr Sina Cotter Tait
Date: 5:00pm — 7:30pm, 21 August 2025
Venue: The George
Location: 50 Park Terrace, Christchurch Central City
Price members: $40.00 incl GST
Price non-members: $50.00 incl GST

Overview

Boards talk a lot about diversity – but how often do they truly listen? When it comes to health, safety and wellbeing, Pacific communities bring a holistic understanding of health and wellbeing that integrates spiritual, cultural and relational dimensions. It’s an approach grounded in connection, not just compliance. These are not just nice-to-haves — they’re critical for making smarter, more inclusive decisions that resonate across the workforce.

Join us for a thought-provoking and interactive session that flips the script on traditional governance thinking. With keynote by Hon Munokoa Poto Williams, former Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister; followed by a panel discussion with Levaula Kim Masina MInstD and Pauline-Jean Luyten MNZM, facilitated by Dr Sina Cotter Tait CMInstD.

You’ll hear why bringing Pacific voices to the decision-making table isn’t only about representation — it’s about results. Discover how boards that embrace diverse worldviews are better equipped to lead with empathy, reduce harm, and create environments where all people thrive.

Hon Munokoa Poto Williams

Hon Poto Williams is a former Member of the NZ House of Representatives, a former Cabinet Minister and a former Assistant Speaker of the House. Poto has been involved with Governance roles in Parliament, primarily through roles with Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) as NZ Co-Chair of CWP, the Pacific Regional Chair and Vice Chair of CWP International. Most notably a Member of the Executive Committee for the Government of New Zealand as a Cabinet Minister.

She has been a board member for Waitakere Community Law and Eastern Sport and Recreation and most recently as Prochancellor (Deputy Chair) of the University of Canterbury.

Deeply committed to issues of equity and inclusion, Poto has worked to ensure that Cultural priorities, the views of Disabled People, People impacted by Domestic and Family Violence and Children are strong in policy and legislation.

Being of Pacific Heritage (Cook Island Maori), Poto's focus on pathways for Pacific people to determine their own unique leadership and governance journeys is imperative for the wellbeing of us all and that strong relationships are key to securing opportunities for our communities, leveraging the leadership of collective impact.

Poto retired from her Parliamentary career in October 2023 and has recently taken up a role as CEO with Challenge 2000 Trust, a youth service based in Johnsonville.

She is a devoted grandmother to two Grandsons.

Levaula Kim Masina

MInstD

With over a decade at Isaac Construction, Kim has been a key figure in its leadership, currently serving as the Business Development & Sponsorship Manager. Previously, he led as the Paving and then the Surfacing Manager - contributing to the Isaac Group's success.

Beyond his corporate role, Kim is deeply involved in governance, advocating for best practices in the construction and education sectors. As Vice Chair of the CCNZ Canterbury/Westland Branch, he champions workforce development. His commitment extends to education governance, serving on the board at Clearview School after previously holding a position at Rolleston School.

A member of the Waihanga Ara Rau Workforce Development Council SRG, Kim helps shape New Zealand’s infrastructure workforce. Passionate about Pasifika representation in leadership, he actively fosters inclusive governance, advocating for policies that empower communities and strengthen leadership pathways.

His leadership, governance expertise, and dedication make him a valued contributor to both industry and community- “O le ala i le pule o le tautua…The pathway to leadership is through service”

Pauline-Jean Luyten

MNZM

Pauline is an impactful governance leader with nearly 20 years of legal experience. A proud Tongan-Dutch daughter of Timaru, she is a Director of Aoraki Legal and one of few Pasifika appointed as a Notary Public by the Archbishop of Canterbury, UK.

Pauline’s first foray into a governance role was as Sports Prefect and Chair of the Sports Council at her high school. A journey that came full circle when she later served as an NZ Rugby Emerging Director. Pauline is currently Co-Chair of NZ Rugby’s Pasifika Advisory Group (Tausoa Fa'atasi) and inaugural NZ Pasifika Rugby Council and an independent on the South Canterbury Rugby Board. She was a driving force behind NZ Rugby’s Pasifika Strategy, working with many Provincial Rugby Unions to embed Pasifika voices in governance.

Recognised globally, Pauline is one of 25 leaders selected for the World Rugby Capgemini Women in Leadership Programme. In 2024 she was the recipient of the Pacific Governance Leader Award at the Women on Boards awards. In 2025, she was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby and the Pacific community.

She is a founding member of the Tongan Society South Canterbury, serves on the Ministry for Pacific Peoples Audit and Risk Committee, and previously worked as an in-house legal advisor at the Medical Council of New Zealand, advising on decision-making, governance and delegations as part of her role. She is also a former trustee of the Mid and South Canterbury Community Trust.

Grounded in her Tongan values, Pauline champions values-led governance, seeing diversity as a strategic advantage that strengthens decision-making and risk management. She focuses on ensuring strategies are lived and delivered upon, creating space for Pasifika at all levels of decision-making, and raising awareness of intersectionality for regional Pasifika, youth, and women in governance.

Dr Sina Cotter Tait

CMInstD

A proud daughter of Otautahi-Christchurch, Sina has over 20 years' experience as a professional civil engineer and construction manager and currently serves on the boards of several infrastructure and engineering-related organisations, as well as running her own engineering consultancy, offering advisory services on infrastructure and projects.

Sina currently serves on the boards of Te Waihanga/the Infrastructure Commission, KiwiRail, Whitestone Contracting, the Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust, and Christchurch City Holdings Ltd. She has twice been awarded the Engineering New Zealand President’s Gold Medal, and was the 2021 Governance NZ Women on Boards Emerging Leader.

Sina’s governance interests focus on infrastructure and community impact, where she sees great opportunities for the sector to benefit from a change in culture. She believes it is the responsibility of infrastructure leaders to lead on wider societal issues, including education, infrastructure and equity, and currently sponsors the Cotter Tait Scholarship at UC for Māori and Pasifika engineering students who aspire to make a difference in the world.

Additional information

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Branch event cancellation policy

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