Ty is a proud descendant of Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, with heritage spanning Western Sāmoa (Fai’a’ai, Nofoali’i), American Sāmoa (Taputimu), and Aotearoa New Zealand (Ngāti Maru). Based in Porirua, she is a storyteller and communicator for NZ Māori Tourism and also serves her community in youth advocacy, sustainable development, racial justice, and civic education.

As a Māori & Pasifika woman, Ty is deeply committed to empowering and creating opportunities for underserved communities, particularly South Pacific youth. Following neurosurgery, she discovered her calling for global changemaking. Ty has used her skills as a connector to raise awareness of inequitable systems in New Zealand, focusing on the injustices faced by indigenous people and Pacific Islanders.

She has played a key role in facilitating cultural competency workshops, co-founded Te Kawekawe (UN Youth NZ), and delivered keynotes at the Governor-General’s House and UN Foundation’s Global Goals Week in New York City on behalf of UNITE2030. Ty was honoured to be the only Aotearoa New Zealand recipient of the Global Citizen Young Leaders Awards 2024, selected from across the Asia-Pacific region.

Her activism has been recognised by the YWCA’s Y25 programme, Mana Whakatōpū (RISE2025), and TupuToa programmes. Ty strives to be a role model for her younger sisters, Blayke and Ridley, demonstrating that they can confidently navigate the world as strong Pacific Island women.

Central to her work is VAKA to 2030, a project that aims to empower changemakers to integrate ancestral knowledge into initiatives supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ty’s goal is to address the underrepresentation of South Pacific indigenous youth in international sustainable development discussions and ensure their perspectives are included.

Ty has coordinated the Aotearoa Youth Declaration 2021, which hosted over high school students from across New Zealand to develop youth-led policies, and led the National Hui for Multiethnic Young Leaders NZ, focusing on creating a National Action Plan for racial justice in New Zealand. Additionally, she served on the Youth Advisory Group for Inspiring Stories and was the Volunteer’s Representative for UN Youth NZ.

Through these efforts, Ty continues to challenge the status quo, increase cultural competency, and ensure diverse voices are heard and valued in leadership and decision-making spaces. Her work inspires young people to take action and make a tangible impact towards achieving the Sustainable Global Goals.