Emeline Afeaki-Mafile'o


Emeline Afeaki-Mafile'o OM is a New Zealand activist for Pasifika people in Auckland.

Early life and work

Afeaki-Mafile'o was born in Tonga to Pat and Edith Afeaki. She attended Massey University where she graduated and then took a master's degree.
At age 25 she was running her own mentoring service. The service went on to employ 100 people to deliver support to 5,000 Pasifika young people in Auckland.
She runs a community café in the Auckland suburb of Otahuhu. She and her family own a coffee factory in Tonga and the coffee is sent to New Zealand to support her work.

Awards

In 2006 she was given a Sir Peter Blake Emerging Leader Award.
In 2013 she was recognised by a New Zealand Women of Influence Award in their community section.
In 2016 she was awarded an Order of Merit for her work with the Pacific communities as part of the New Year Honours.