Tongan lawyer calls for youth to lead, as she is honoured for service to rugby and community

From the courtroom to the rugby field, Tongan lawyer Pauline-Jean Luyten is calling for more young Pacific people to take ownership of their spaces.

Luyten, who is based in Timaru , is the co-founder of the Tongan Society South Canterbury, an initiative she helped start almost 10 years ago to address community needs.

“Timaru is about 83 per cent non-Pasifika. So seeing our kids just shine and thrive is probably a big celebration for me,” Luyten says.

She is also celebrating her appointment as a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List for her services to rugby and the Pacific community.

She says the award is not just individual recognition.

“I was just so overwhelmed and shocked because you don't generally think that people would spend that much time trying to put letters together and trying to write supportive things. So it was pretty overwhelming.

“It always feels a bit funny when you get acknowledged as one, but I really don't feel that.

“I feel like it's, like, everyone's award shared amongst everyone because everyone's played a significant part for me to even be here.”

Luyten’s passion for community service has always been her grounding force, which she describes as her "soul food”.

Luyten being sworn in as a notary public. Photo/Sina Manoa Latu Facebook

“Whenever I go away for New Zealand rugby events and then I come back, I just feel at home like my soul food, my recharge moments are all with our community, with our kainga here.”

In her governance roles in rugby, including being the first Pacific woman appointed to both the South Canterbury Provincial Rugby Union Board and the New Zealand Rugby Board as an emerging director, Luyten has faced challenges head-on.

“We're not defined by just what we play and I think that's probably been the biggest challenge is challenging all those stereotypes that we have as Pasifika expertise, as in terms of cultural knowledge.”

Luyten and fellow leaders of NZ Rugby. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

She advocates strongly for formal Pacific representation in rugby's decision-making processes, highlighting the recent establishment of the New Zealand Rugby Pasifika Council.

“Probably the challenge is that sometimes everyone's so focused on rushing things through, or obviously rugby nationally is very commercially focussed that they forget to appreciate the contribution of Pasifika and the value that Pasifika bring to the game.”

Her message to Pacific youth is clear: “Own the space.

Listen to Luyten's interview on Pacific Mornings

“I freely admit that I have a Pālangi side of my family and a Tongan side… but I make sure I know where I come from.

“I did my thesis on our Tongan community here because I wanted to learn more about who I was. But in the process of doing that, I learned about the collective, how service is key.

“I now know that when I'm in a space, I can bring my skills and knowledge to contribute to our community as a proud Tongan.”