Faleomavaega Helen Karati is a dedicated public servant with over 20 years of experience. Helen’s journey is a testament to resilience, community, and unwavering commitment to service. Hailing from the villages of Saleaaumua, Aleipata and Lelepa in Savai’i, Helen’s Samoan heritage and values have been the cornerstone of her career.
In this interview, Helen shares her humble beginnings and the pivotal moments that shaped her path. From supporting her family financially after college to her first role at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), Helen’s story is one of perseverance and dedication. She reflects on the challenges of fitting into a system that often required her to change, only to realize that her true value lay in being herself.
Helen’s career is marked by significant achievements, including leading the development of the Pacific Prosperity strategy at MSD and leading the Māori, Pacific and Ethnic Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work programme at Te Kawa Mataaho. Her work is deeply rooted in community engagement, ensuring the voices of Māori and Pacific people are heard and integrated into public service policies.
Throughout her journey, Helen emphasizes the importance of knowing your “why”—the driving force behind her commitment to serve her family and community. She advocates for ambition, boldness, and the power of cultural identity in shaping one’s career. Helen’s story is also a reminder of the importance of mentorship, community support, and celebrating wins, both big and small.
Join us as Helen discusses her challenges, memorable wins, and the future actions she recommends for those aspiring to follow in her footsteps. Her insights offer valuable lessons on leadership, resilience, and the transformative power of staying true to oneself.
The six pou of Mata Ārahi Manomano drive the questions we have used to profile Māori & Pacific role models, like Helen, in the Service sector.
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Representing the levels and forms of aroha that can be found throughout our lives across our many communities. We acknowledge the wide range of obstacles and the journey it takes to overcoming everything that stands in our way to expressing aroha within.
Malo le soifua maua ma le lagi e mama. I am Faleomavaega Helen Karati.
I am a living testimony of my parents, my family, and my village. I am a descendent of Tuimanua and a proud daughter of the Pacific, hailing from the villages of Saleaaumua, Aleipata and Lelepa, Savaii. Aotearoa is my home, but my heart is in Samoa, the resting place of my ancestors.
My parents moved to Aotearoa in search of a better future, to saili malo and provide for their families back home. I think of their sacrifices in all that I do. I am the oldest of three and the only girl.
My faith, fa’asinomaga (identity), Pacific values and my culture are my anchor, and I carry this with me in every role and opportunity I have the privilege of serving in.
Our families didn’t grow up with much, but my parents worked super hard to provide for my brothers and I. We were surrounded by so much love and aiga (family). My parents taught us the importance of church, family, fa’aaloalo (respect), alofa (love), tautua (service) and hard work.
I serve at Te Kawa Mataaho, the Public Service Commission, and I am proud to be part of a team shaping the future of the Public Service. As a senior leader in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team, I am dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable environment that delivers better outcomes for all New Zealanders.
I am passionate about gender equality, advocating for Pacific and most importantly amplifying and weaving Pacific voices to inform our work to improve outcomes for our aiga and communities today and for future generations.
My career is constantly evolving and there is always room for improvement. My superpower is connecting the dots to create better outcomes for Māori and Pacific communities.
I love having conversations with communities and bringing them in as part of our mahi because we are accountable to them, and their voices should be woven into all the mahi that we do.
Seeking guidance from our kaitiaki Hiwa-i-te-rangi, we take a journey through our different aspirations, goals and dreams. This tohu acknowledges hard work, wisdom, the reach of ones goals and the desire that comes from this mahi.
My first role in the public service was at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) as a Case Manager on the cadet scheme. It also offered the opportunity to complete Level 3 and 4 National Certificate in Public Sector Services. I applied because I wanted to make a difference. The public service to me is about tautua, which in my family means service to your aiga and community.
One of my career highlights was leading the development of Pacific Prosperity, MSD’s first national Pacific strategy, launched in 2019. I initiated the talanoa methodology which enabled a personal encounter where Pacific people story-tell their aspirations, realities and issues. This allowed for authentic conversations with over 5,000 Pacific peoples, families and communities which included an on-line survey conducted in eight Pacific languages.
I will never forget during one of our talanoa sessions with communities I was told “Helen don’t you come back here until I see action” a reminder that we are accountable to our communities.
Community participation and connections have also played a key part in my career. I am a member of P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc., established in 1977 to create a united voice to empower Pacific women living in Aotearoa to come together. In 2024, for the first time, a P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A delegation attended the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York, the largest annual gathering focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment. I was honored to be a part of this delegation.
With adventure comes challenges as well as obstacles to overcome. We stand proud as we overcome these obstacles. This tohu draws inspiration from the Niho Taniwha and Aramoana patterns. We acknowledge reaching our destination and preparing ourselves for the many new adventures ahead.
Throughout my career, I have experienced moments of triumph and growth, as well as challenges that have shaped me into a stronger tamaita’i (woman).
My values and my faith have kept me grounded. My why and alofa (love) for the work I lead continues to remind me of the importance of not giving up.
I have been blessed to hold several leadership roles, regionally and nationally, and had great mentors who supported me throughout my 20 years in the public service.
Embracing adventure is essential, it’s where the magic unfolds. Venturing into unchartered waters that challenge you and push you to grow is a must do.
Saili malo – I stive for greatness in all that I do. I aspire to become a Chief Executive and am currently supported by the Corporate Development Board which fosters leadership development across the Public Service.
When the going gets tough, stay focused and keep moving forward!
These patterns represent bravery and being strong in the face of adversity. We strive to be persistent and positively challenge anything that threatens to alter, restrict, and put a barrier in the way of our desired pathway.
My journey in the public service has paved the way for personal and professional growth, providing for my family while fostering continuous learning and development. I was selected for Te Aka Matua, a post graduate executive development programme for Maori and Pacific senior leaders, which allowed me to study part-time over three years while working full-time. In 2022, I proudly graduated with a Master of Public Management from Victoria University.
Navigating the demands of work and study was tough, but it was a vital part of preparing myself for the future. My graduation ceremony was a moment of immense pride, and seeing my mum’s face when I walked the stage made all the hard work worth it – her sacrifices fueled my success.
I’m excited about the opportunities and partnerships that lie ahead and I’m committed to staying open to new experiences while also taking time to self-reflect.
I pray that this taonga, my masters, will advance opportunities for growth and shake things up for the betterment of our communities, leaving a lasting impact that inspires generations to come.
Here we are drawing inspiration from the Pūhoro pattern. The pūhoro is used here to represent the strength, speed and agility needed to move forward and accomplish ones goals.
Know your why! Unleash your superpowers and embrace who you are!
This keeps me grounded in everything I set out to do. My why has remained constant: to tautua, to serve. To serve my family, to serve my community, to serve all New Zealanders. I believe I am authentic and bring value to the spaces I serve in.
Believe in yourself, be bold, be courageous! Speak life into your goals. Share your goals with your loved ones and surround yourself with mentors who are there to lift you up not tell you what you can’t do!
I appreciate the strong foundation my church provided. From learning the Samoan language to mastering preparation and study, Sunday school exams ignited my love for learning. White Sunday – my first drama school, where I discovered my confidence in public speaking, to youth – a safe space that empowered me to navigate the world beyond college. My culture and community have moulded me into who I am.
Embrace your unique perspective and experiences, they are invaluable and have the potential to create positive change.
And lastly, pause and celebrate your wins – however small they may seem – and use them as fuel for your continued success!
Success, best mentioned in the whakatauki “Tūwhitia te hopo, mairangatia te angitū!” Feel the fear and do it anyway!
My career has transformed me towards self-empowerment. I celebrate my unique strengths, and I am the proud author of my story. You don’t need to change to fit into the system!
Authenticity is key to unlocking our potential, and surrounding ourselves with supportive mentors helps us soar.
Memorable moments include the development of Pacific Prosperity and championing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Māori, Pacific and Ethnic work programme across the public service – this mahi is close to my heart.
Representing P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc at the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of women was a dream come true. Being there and highlighting the significance of Pacific women’s voices on the global stage, I will never forget. I am also the Co-Chair Pou Tangata Moana, the Pacific Public Servants Network across Aotearoa – this fills my cup serving our Pacific aiga across the Public Sector.
All of this will not be possible without my faith. God has cleared the path and continues to fofola the many mats I have been blessed to stand and serve on.
I leave you with a Samoan proverb that guides me:
“o nei e fausia ai taeao”
What you do today builds the future for tomorrow.
