This is the amazing career hustle of Salā Orion Tiatia, a dynamic entrepreneur and community leader whose story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of vision.
Orion was born and raised in Wellington and spent his formative years in the vibrant towns of Wainuiomata and Porirua. His journey took him to Brisbane, where he completed his schooling before returning to New Zealand for university. Orion’s path was shaped by his early experiences, including being raised by a solo mother and taking on responsibilities at a young age to support his family.
Despite initial aspirations of becoming a rugby player, Orion’s career took a different turn as he embraced entrepreneurship. His first venture into the business world was challenging, but each failure taught him valuable lessons and fuelled his drive to succeed. Orion’s resilience and adaptability have been key to his success, allowing him to build a diverse portfolio of businesses, including security, construction, and talent management.
One of Orion’s defining moments was accepting his calling to support his family and community. This realisation propelled him to pursue business opportunities that not only provided financial stability but also created jobs and uplifted those around him. His dedication to his community is evident in his efforts to bridge gaps and provide opportunities for Māori and Pacific individuals.
Orion’s journey is marked by memorable wins, such as securing major contracts in the security industry and collaborating with global brands like Disney. His ability to navigate challenges and turn them into successes has made him a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Join us as we delve into the inspiring story of Salā Orion Tiatia, a true embodiment of leadership, community spirit, and entrepreneurial excellence. Discover how his experiences and insights can inspire you to pursue your own path with determination and resilience.
The six pou of Mata Ārahi Manomano drive the questions we have used to profile Māori & Pacific role models, like Orion, 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.
My name is Salā Orion Tiatia. I’m from Wellington. I was raised in two amazing towns: Wainuiomata and Porirua. After moving to Brisbane to finish my schooling, I returned to New Zealand in 2006 for university, fell in love, had children, got married, and have been living in Auckland ever since.
My parents were born and raised in Samoa. My mum is from Fasito’outa, while my father is from Leauva’a and Saleimoa in Upolu. I was honoured to receive the Salā chief title from my grandfather in Leauva’a.
In terms of strengths, I am very unfiltered in life and in business, as a father and as a leader in my community. I speak my mind when needed and have a unique way of expressing myself that allows me to connect with others. Not many people can say things the way I do without facing backlash for being blunt.
I also possess great resilience in business. I love to pursue things that challenge me. When I need to learn something new, even if it’s completely foreign, I dive right in. I take pride in proving myself to myself. Building businesses and creating job opportunities are among my key strengths.
As for my weakness, it would definitely be the women in my life—my mother, my wife, my sisters, and my daughter. I wouldn’t say they dictate my actions, but they certainly have creative ways of getting their way, whether it’s financially or just by calling me to fly to Brisbane for the smallest things. But that’s part of why I do what I 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.
Growing up in Porirua and Wainuiomata, I initially dreamed of becoming a Hurricanes player or an All Black. However, circumstances changed my path. Raised primarily by a single mother, I am the oldest of seven siblings, and we needed to make money. At 16, while managing a cleaning contract with my mother in Brisbane, I realised that entrepreneurship was the best way to achieve financial stability.
After finishing high school in Brisbane, I fully committed to entrepreneurship. At 17, I flew to Auckland and enrolled in the first business course I could find. Nearly 20 years later, I am proud to say that I have navigated through various challenges and accomplished my goals.
I completed Certificates in Hospitality Levels 3, 4, and 5 in Supervision and Management. Following that, I was encouraged to pursue Business studies, earning a Diploma in Hospitality Management and then a Diploma in Business Management. I continued my education at AUT, working towards both my diploma and bachelor’s degree in business.
Many people have described my journey as inspirational. Like any other kid, I had my own dreams, but fortunate and unfortunate circumstances shaped my path. Ultimately, I am grateful that those experiences led me to entrepreneurship. We had enough rugby players and boxers representing us; what we needed were more entrepreneurs.
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.
When I was working as a bartender, a guy attempted to assault one of my colleagues. I jumped over the bar to intervene, and the owner remarked, “You’d make a better bouncer.” This led me to transition into door security work.
In 2011, I had my first child and began managing musicians while organizing gigs in bars. At that time, I also ran a security company that provided services for hospitality venues and events.
However, in 2011, new legislation required all security personnel to possess a security certificate of approval, which resulted in losing a significant portion of my workforce due to criminal records. Consequently, I decided to leave the security field and return to conventional work. I became a full-time student, attending classes Monday through Friday in evening classes from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, while working as a bouncer from Wednesday to Sunday nights.
In 2016, I renewed my focus on the security industry, ventured into security technology, and reestablished my security company, which I later rebranded as Trust and Loyalty Security. In 2022, Trust and Loyalty received the Entrepreneur Award at the PBT Awards.
I then started a construction company with my family, where my father serves as the operational manager. He had some difficulty getting established, so I took the initiative to register our interiors business. Our family has a longstanding history in construction dating back to the 1970s, starting in Wellington.
As a serial entrepreneur, I have diversified into various ventures, including transportation, acquiring additional security companies, and owning a boat hire business. Additionally, I provide business consulting services, focusing on advisory programs for Pacific people, in collaboration with the Ministry of Pacific Peoples. I was selected as one of three suppliers in Auckland.
Moreover, I have expanded my consulting firm into talent management, media, and marketing, managing influencers and engaging in digital marketing. I also have investments in ventures abroad, including the Philippines, Dubai, Australia, Samoa, and Bali.
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.
There is never just one defining moment in someone’s life; it takes many experiences to shape who we are.
One of the key moments for me was when I first made the decision to help my mom. She often confided in me, and after leaving her behind in Australia with all my siblings, I adopted a do-or-die attitude. I came here with a mission and couldn’t return home empty-handed. This created a strong desire in me to pursue success for my family.
Another significant moment occurred when I was about 19 or 20, graduating from my first set of diplomas. During this time, I felt quite depressed, questioning why I had to give up my social and young adult life to take on a parental role for my siblings.
Ultimately, I realised that it was my calling to endure this stress and journey in order to build businesses. I was the resilient one, the strong one, the person with the heart to do it for others.
In my mid-20s, I began engaging with young people, and I noticed that some kids were drawn to me because of the business language and messages I shared. They were eager to make money for their families. Accepting the responsibility of being a role model for these kids, and the humility that comes with knowing I could succeed in my own pursuits while inspiring them, became another defining moment in my life.
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.
My first recommendation is to not get too caught up in your feelings. Many students, myself included, often focus on “what I want to do” instead of “what I need to do.” These are usually two completely different things. When you start prioritizing what you need to do, you’ll find that there are always backup plans and processes in place.
It’s important not to follow the crowd, especially after high school. Those students who spent their time in the library or reading books often achieve exceptional success. I have friends who were bullied in school but now own multi-million-dollar businesses abroad. These individuals charted their own paths and remained committed to their plans, regardless of the direction in which others were headed.
The second piece of advice is to study business. I always advocate for studying business first because most people ultimately aspire to run their own businesses. Whether you aim to be a physiotherapist, a coach, or a sports consultant, you don’t want to be stuck in a 9-to-5 job for someone else forever. At some point, you’ll desire to work for yourself. So, get that business education first, and you can figure out the rest later.
Business studies provide the most transferable skills applicable to any job.
Success, best mentioned in the whakatauki “Tūwhitia te hopo, mairangatia te angitū!” Feel the fear and do it anyway!
Challenges and failures are part of the journey. I have actually enjoyed my failures because each time I encountered one, I bounced back ten times stronger.
One of my significant failures occurred during my first business venture with my business partner in the entertainment and security sector. Although he remains a close friend, we were young and failed to establish a sustainable commercial approach to the business. That experience turned out to be one of the most valuable lessons for me. It’s crucial to have a clear pathway to success, and everyone involved must align with that goal, regardless of personal relationships.
On the other hand, one of my memorable wins came when my security business collaborated with another security entity to win a contract with a major airline. We played a vital role in ensuring the airline’s safety during the Covid phase, particularly when vaccinations were required for flying.
Another highlight in my journey was with my talent management business. The first influencer I took on has been successfully developing his platform, and we are thrilled with the achievements resulting from our collaborative work. Last year, we traveled to Hawaii, where Disney hosted us for the world premiere of Moana 2. It was a remarkable opportunity to collaborate with Dwayne Johnson, one of my idols and a shining example of Pacific success.
Additionally, I was honored to represent Aotearoa and Samoa at an economic development conference in Hawaii. Listening to heartfelt stories from individuals empowered by their communities humbled me. It made me realize that everyone has their own battles, often fought in the shadows, and their struggles can be incredibly inspiring, especially when compared to the economic challenges some face.
