Isoa Kavakimotu
Si’oto’ofa everyone! Ko hoku hingoa ko Isoa Kavakimotu.
I’m a 28-year-old Tongan, my Mum is from Fua’amotu on the main island Tongatapu, and my Dad is from ‘Utungake, a village in Vava’u #MMT
My family has called Panmure home since 2013 but before that, we lived in the Mt. Roskill/Mt. Albert area. However, we did live on Maybury St and Pt. England when I was kid, so I’ve always had a connection to Tāmaki.
I first heard of the HEART Movement in November 2020, when I was approached by Benji Timu (who is also a HEART Change Agent) to be a facilitator for the Men’s Talanoa Session. This was co-hosted by HEART and Plantation Conversations.
It wasn’t until April 2021 when I had a meeting with Ren where I learned about HEART’s Kaupapa of building healthy relationships in Tāmaki, and that there was a real need to hold space for our men. So I joined the team in May as the “Influence Phase Leader” to not only utilize my skills as a professional photographer/videographer to tell the stories in Tāmaki, but also to help hold safe spaces for men to share, to learn, to grow and become the best versions of themselves. I’m still new to HEART, but I’m learning all that I can so I can better serve our community.
I love that The HEART Movement isn’t afraid to have difficult conversations. I’ve been a part of a few community training sessions, and I always walk away with a new tool in my kete to use in my everyday life. It was difficult to sit through the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy training because it forced me to confront some of my own mental and emotional issues. It was difficult to attend the Intimate Partner Violence (Strangulation) workshop because hearing the stories of survivors and those who sadly died due to abusive partners. Relationships are difficult to navigate but are a joy to have when they’re good-natured and have healthy boundaries.
Fun fact about me is that I love going to cafés, and that one day I’d love to open my own café. Even though I’m not really good at making espresso coffee, I love that cafés are not just a place to get food and drink, but a place to meet, to catch-up, to talanoa. I love that something as simple as food or coffee facilitates communication between people. Also, I really like Tim-Tams and Chit-Chats so I’d be doing Tim-Tam slams all day (just don’t tell my trainer please).
A word of advice?
Sometimes we get so caught up in comparing ourselves to others that we forget we’re different people. Some people get to the destination quickly, while others take the scenic route. Just focus on yourself, you’ll get there in your own time.