Prepared by Cherie Chu (PhD) Victoria University of Wellington February Read more →
Holona is a New Zealand-born Niuean. He is committed to empowering people in achieving their aspirations, to contribute to and share equitably in New Zealand’s prosperity.
His approach and philosophy is from a positive, strengths-based and solutions-focused perspective. He has a passion for developing the creative, innovative and productivity potential diversity, including cultural diversity, brings to teams and organisations.
Holona has considerable experience and expertise in his specialist areas of effective cross-cultural awareness and communication in team development especially high performance teams, project management for learning and development programmes and communications, particularly for Pacific communities.
He regularly provides advice on communicating with Pacific Peoples and co-conducted Pacific Analysis Framework policy training for a wide range of public sector and non-government organisations.
A graduate of Victoria University (BA in English Literature), Holona is accredited in the Team Management System suite of management development tools. He is also highly experienced in the use of Appreciative Inquiry with organisations and national and international level sports teams.
Holona’s previous positions have included:
- Manager Communication for the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs,
- Senior Presentation and Senior Promotions Director for Television New Zealand and
- almost a decade as a secondary teacher teaching English,
- Head of Department for Media Studies, and
- teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages.