Empowering Māori and Pacific women through beauty and business

Māori and Pacific people are being given a platform to thrive in the beauty industry, as three leading salon owners and educators join forces for a full-day workshop in Manukau.

Tapu Elia, founder of Bubu’s Lashes and the Polynesian Beauty Academy, is collaborating with Veronica Tatafu, owner of Lavikas Lash House, and Jade Oaariki, the founder of Jade’s Beauty Academy NZ. Together, they have over 20 years of industry experience and will lead training sessions in eyelash extensions and brow threading.

Speaking with Tofiga Fepulea’i on Island Time, Elia says they aim to empower women to enter the beauty industry with confidence. She says the inspiration for the event came from the Lash Industry Awards, organised by founders Sheree Miller and Rauwhiro Kennedy.

“They brought all the Lash Industry artists and educators together in one room. You hear stories from each of the women and… it ignited the fire within me to reach out to the beautiful Veronica and Jade to make this happen,” Elia says.

“We know right now that jobs are hard to find and get these days. We’re here to be the solution, to provide the education, the certification, and empower our Māori and Pacific women to enter the beauty industry. To apply for jobs and start businesses.”

Tatafu, who has trained and worked in different countries, says Māori and Pacific people possess exceptional talent in the industry. She says they bring a unique flair and vibrancy to the beauty scene.

Watch Tapu Elia and Veronica Tatafu's full interview below.

“Our people we’re so hands-on. Our creativeness is out of this world, it's one in a million and you can't find it anywhere else. I love training the new generation and seeing the creativeness that they naturally bring to the table,” Tatafu says.

“I've always been a big advocate that representation matters and not only in the beauty industry but across all industries.” She says this collaborative event goes beyond teaching technical skills.”

The Lash and Brow Masterclass will take place on 29 August at Manukau, Auckland. It will include practical and theory training, professional kits, certification, a marketing toolkit, a client consultation pack, and catering. A bonus branding photoshoot will also be part of the package, aimed at helping participants present themselves professionally to future clients.

Tatafu says that while teaching someone how to apply lashes and do brows is simple, achieving success in the industry requires more than just technical skills. She says many Māori and Pacific women do not come from business-owning families, which often leads to a lack of entrepreneurial knowledge.

“Both [Elia] and I know that running the business side is a different ball game,” Tafatu says. “We don't come from a background in business so we both [Elia] and I had to learn as we go. So these little extras that we’ve put into our workshop, it's just extras that we'd like to pass on to our students.

Elia operates her salon and academy in Porirua, Wellington, offering both in-person and online training. Tatafu has spent more than seven years running her South Auckland salon and teaching across the Pacific. Oaariki shifted from salon management to focusing on beauty education full-time, inspiring young women through her academy.

The event also reflects a broader solution to the current economic challenges. Elia says sharing resources reduces costs and increases value for clients, describing it as a “win-win situation all around”.

Places at the masterclass are limited to 12 participants. To register, click here