PPN Member Highlight: Moana Leilua

A Pasifika Trailblazer

From humble beginnings in the Waikato Samoan community to the professional clubs of Australian rugby, Moana’s journey is a testament to the perseverance, pride, and humility that comes with being Pasifika.

“We were raised as very staunch Samoans.”

Moana, the daughter of migrants who came from Samoa to Aotearoa in the 70s, was raised in Kirikiriroa (Hamilton), where her upbringing involved church, sport, and fruit-picking.

“Hamilton had quite a small Pacific Island community in the 80s.”

“It has definitely developed since then, but like most migrants who kind of find their way to new lands looking for something familiar, for my parents, familiarity was church.”

“So, we ended up joining the local Samoan church in Hamilton which became our village.” 

Raised by Samoan parents — her mother and chief father — Moana chatted to us about how her upbringing is formative to her professional ethos, founded on a strong work ethic, humility, and the concept that no job is beneath her.

Moana’s parents

“One time, we were raising funds to go to Samoa for my grandfather’s saofa’i. He was getting the Chief Matai Title from our village, Fusi Safotulafai. We worked from sunrise to sunset, waking up at three in the morning to travel to the outskirts of Hamilton to pick asparagus.”

“That’s what we did for a good two-and-a-half months. That’s all we knew. Waking up at three in the morning to go out and pick asparagus, and be back by seven at night and repeat. Our summer holidays were consumed with fruit or vege picking (mainly asparagus and onion) and Church games, like Kilikiti (Samoan cricket) & volleyball  “

“It’s that kinda stuff when I go through difficult times, I say to myself ‘it’s better than picking asparagus’”, she laughs.

Her reflection epitomises that Pacific Islander lightheartedness. She is able to laugh at what would be closer to a harrowing story of child labour in a palagi memoir.

After secondary school, Moana went on to study a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. There, Moana was acutely aware of the lack of Pasifika students in the classroom, even more so as she went on to complete an MBA at the University of Waikato in 2018:

“There were very few Pasifika in Science during my undergrad years, and even when I completed my MBA in 2018, I was one of two Samoans and maybe three or four Māori. I’ve definitely seen an increase in the number of Pasifika peoples pursuing higher education nowadays, but back then, we were a small but mighty group.”

Nevertheless, Moana persevered by reminding herself of the bigger picture:

“For me, I knew that anything I did was to honour my family, my parents, my ancestors.”

She brings to light a point that is perhaps prevalent across many different cultures, but one that is certainly particular to us all as Pasifika peoples: we seek to achieve great things, not for mere glory or empty ambition, but to, as Moana so perfectly puts it, honour family, parents, and ancestors.

“My trajectory into sport wasn’t smooth-sailing.”

Moana describes her career journey as being non-linear, with varying experience across several sectors (including produce-picking, of course).

“When I finished university, I worked in a contact centre for a couple of years. Then I secured a middle-management role in shipping and freight, went back into telco, dabbled in recruitment, followed by nine-and-a-half years in the tertiary education sector.” 

Although Moana never went down the path related to her degree, her university years are ones that she cherishes, and the skills and knowledge (and friendships) gained were invaluable, helping to shape her approach to work.

In the end, it was sport that Moana landed on, which she describes as her ‘dream sector’.

“I found my dream sector at 36,” she explains.

But, it was a long journey.

 “My trajectory into sport wasn’t smooth-sailing. I quit my job in the education sector to take up contracting in rugby, which is only a four-month stint, because I knew that I wanted to do sport. So, for the other eight-months or so, I was hustling trying to figure out what to do, as I had a mortgage to pay amongst other obligations.”

“I was packing milk bottles on the graveyard shift, dabbled in a contact centre role in sales and also worked with the Ministry for Pacific Peoples in between those contracts.”

“I was humble enough to know, if my parents could do it, it doesn't matter if it's cleaning or packing milk bottles. I will do what I gotta do to survive. No job is beneath me.”

With the support of her loved ones and that humble, resilient spirit instilled in her from childhood, Moana persevered and eventually landed a full-time role in Australia with the Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA).

“I never would’ve thought that I’d get an opportunity to combine what I love, which is sport, with my profession. I played rugby for a good 14-15 years and I hung up the boots in 2014. I started working voluntarily in rugby immediately after because I still wanted to be connected to the game. During that, I decided to pursue postgraduate studies, all the while working full-time.”

“But never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would actually be working in the professional side of the game. A quote that sat with me throughout was ‘when your passion becomes your purpose, it will one day become your profession.’ Things were all falling into place.”

Moana (front left) playing for NZ Samoa team

Moana’s Advice

For anyone seeking to enter the sport professionally in an off-field role:

Have a strong work ethic, deep connection to self, and service leadership. 

“We are literally navigating two worlds.”

As Player Development Manager at RUPA, well-being is key to Moana’s work. She says that making players feel at home in a high performance environment is paramount. 

“Sometimes, some of our boys are going home and the primary language spoken is Tongan or Samoan or Afrikaans. Then they have to switch when they come into the workplace, having to deal with expectations from coaches, having to get their body composition down, making sure that they meet all your benchmarks so that they can be fully prepared and fit once the season starts.”

“Coming in with a healthy financial literacy is so important too. The work I do is in the welfare or wellbeing space, from onboarding — making sure that the player and their families feel welcome — to supporting their off-field development activities. Being able to find a balance outside of playing footy.”

For those who aspire to join the industry on the professional side, like Moana, integrating your cultural identity can be a superpower.

Moana talks about gaining fundamental professional skills via cultural experiences, saying that many Pasifika possess valuable skillsets due to their culture and upbringing. Be it the public-speaking prowess gained from readings and memory verses for White Sunday and Sunday school, incredible fundraising capabilities, or our knack for event planning: we should recognise the skills we naturally have and empower those skills as part of our professional identities.

“I think the way we are as Pasifika people is not only good for the Pasifika athletes but it's actually good for all the athletes. The duty of care element. Being able to operate with respect and love, with ofa. It comes naturally for us and it's in our DNA”.

Moreover, our ability to talk and share stories, sometimes known as networking.

Moana (front right) at a PPN Networking Event in November 2024

“We’re such social butterflies, being able to engage in talanoa regardless of where we are.”

Having spent a lot of time close to the sport, in both grassroots and professional rugby, Moana was able to understand the journey that players deal with, which she advises is important for professionals in her line of work.

Otherwise, the variety of skills she gained through years of mixed experience in several sectors served to set her up for success in her current role.

“Organisational skills, project management, time management, leadership, coordinating and administration - all of those, many of which we are born with, are things that I've been able to lean on here. The wellbeing side comes naturally for me.”

Beyond these elements, Moana brings it back to her values-based approach to work, stressing this as being a crucial component to finding success in your work.

“Your value system. Kindness, gratitude, hard work, integrity. It's definitely served me well.”  

Lastly, just apply to that role you don’t feel 100% qualified for.

About her current role with RUPA, she says:

“I thought I met 75% of the requirements. I applied for the job anyway. Five seasons later, and now in a new city in two brand new roles, it’s definitely something I couldn't have scripted myself.”

“Being Samoan is my superpower.”

It was inspiring to chat with Moana and see, in real time, a Pacific success story that is authentic to the heart of who we are. She is a woman who truly believes that her culture is her superpower, and believes the same about all those who make up our wider Pacific community. 

It was a privilege to discuss her story, starting from humble beginnings picking fruit and vegetables during school holidays in Hamilton. She mentions earlier on in our conversation that picking produce in unpleasant weather conditions made her dream of working in an office. 

“I knew I wanted an inside job”, she says.

Well, you did it! Fa’amalo atu on your inside job, Moana.