Fa’avae Foundation
The Fa’avae Foundation
The Fa’avae Foundation was established in 1996 by Phil and Jan Fa’avae, with a fund now managed by the Top of the South Community Foundation. Originally, the Nelson Pacific Island Community partnered with the Fa’avaes to launch the Nelson Pacific Island Afterschool Study Programme. Sadly, the programme ended in 2013 following Jan’s tragic passing in a car accident.
Phil, who was born in Samoa, was deeply committed to supporting Pacific youth. He expressed a strong wish for the fund to be used primarily for the educational development of Pasifika youth in the region. Phil passed away in 2018.
Phil and Jan were widely known for their generosity, tirelessly helping Pacific Island families and students integrate into life in New Zealand. They also provided significant support back to Samoa and other islands. In 2009, they established the Samoan Tsunami Aid Relief (S.T.A.R), which sent containers of building materials to devastated villages following the tsunami.
Thanks to the collaboration of Janice Howard, Tapita Ching, Duncan Cotterill Lawyers, and Phil and Jan’s children, Zariana, Braden, and Nathan, the fund continues today under the care of the Top of the South Community Foundation, ensuring ongoing support for the Pacific community.
Looking Ahead: 2026
The goal for 2026 is to grow the Foundation’s endowment fund, so that the annual interest earned can be used to create meaningful opportunities for Pasifika youth in the region. Key areas of focus include education, health, and encouraging pathways toward higher-earning careers.
Importantly, donations to the Foundation are invested in perpetuity, none of the principal is spent. Only the interest from the fund is used to support initiatives.
The Fa’avae family warmly welcomes and encourages donors to contribute to the Fa’avae Foundation through the Top of the South Community Foundation. Every donation helps create lasting opportunities for the educational advancement of Pasifika youth in the Top of the South region.
In July 2026, I’ll be paddling the Yukon 1000 kayak race alongside my long-time adventure racing teammate and close friend, Sophie Hart.
The Yukon 1000 is widely regarded as the toughest paddling race in the world, and for good reason. Covering 1,000 miles from Canada to Alaska, it journeys through the remote and unforgiving wilderness of the Yukon Territory.
We were fortunate to win the race in 2024, but we believe we can do better, and we’re going back to give it everything we’ve got.
This year, the race is about more than performance. I’m using it as a platform to raise awareness and support for our family foundation. My goal is simple: $10 per mile, aiming to raise $10,000.
In New Zealand, Pacific communities are overrepresented in some deeply concerning statistics, poor health outcomes, higher crime rates, family hardship, and limited access to higher-income career pathways. These are challenges we cannot ignore.
Our family’s goal is to create a programme within our local community that directly addresses these issues. We want to help young people understand the value of health and wellbeing, expand their horizons, and show them clear, achievable pathways toward meaningful and higher-income careers, while also backing them with belief and support.
We currently have over $100,000 invested with the Top of the South Community Foundation, with a long-term goal of growing this to $1 million. Reaching that level will give us the confidence to launch the programme properly, ensuring its quality, achieving meaningful outcomes, and providing the security and longevity needed to make a lasting impact.
The programme we’ve developed is thoughtful, practical, and ambitious. We know real change takes time, but we believe strongly in its potential to create positive change for future generations.
Filemoni and Jan Fa’avae (Papā & Mamā)
