Tongan sports legend champions project to empower youth and build resilience

A former Tongan rugby league star is leading the charge to build a $3.5 million emergency evacuation and community hub in Ha'apai, following a royal request and support from the Pacific diaspora.

Sione Finefeuiaki, now the founder of Sione’s Foundation, is overseeing the construction of a multi-purpose centre in the village of Ha’atou.

The initiative emerged after a formal request from Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka to the Australian government for assistance in creating a disaster-resilient facility for the Ha’apai community.

The hub will shelter families during natural disasters and serve as a vital community space throughout the year.

In an interview with PMN Tonga, Finefeuiaki says, “We’re not just building a hall, we’re building something that gives hope to our people.”

The facility will include gender-inclusive bathrooms, showers, a kitchen, event space, sports courts, and playgrounds.

While the initial funding only covered the hall, Finefeuiaki and his team are making the most of their resources to create a full-scale, community-focused complex that addresses both emergency needs and daily life.

Born and raised in Tonga before rising through the ranks of professional rugby in Australia and New Zealand, Finefeuiaki says the project is deeply personal.

“I’ve seen what’s possible overseas. Our kids in Tonga deserve those same opportunities,” he says. “If they’re passionate and work hard, they can go far, and we want to build places that support that.

Sione’s Foundation team at Sunday service in Tonga before they head to Auckland for the Sporting Lunch event. Photo/Facebook

“Sometimes you can’t get there, but you actually go further than if you just sit and wait for a miracle to happen. The more lucky you are, the harder you work, the more lucky you are,” Finefeuiaki emphasised the importance of hard work and passion.

To bring this vision to life, Sione’s Foundation is calling on the Pacific community, both locally and abroad, to get involved in any way possible. Whether through donations, volunteering skills, fundraising, or simply spreading the word, every contribution counts.

“It's not just about money,” Finefeuiaki says. “We need people stepping up with whatever they’ve got, whether that’s time, skills, or support. This is a community effort, and together, we can build something truly lasting.”

To support this and other ongoing projects, Sione’s Foundation is hosting a major fundraising event on Friday, 1 August, from 12pm to 4pm, at Full Time Sports Bar in Kingsland, Auckland.

Watch Sione Finefeuiaki's full interview below.

The Sporting Lunch will feature Pacific sports legends, including athletes Valerie Adams, Sione Faumuina, and Peter Alatini, all of whom will rally behind the foundation’s mission.

“Every dollar raised is going straight into the projects on the ground in Tonga,” Finefeuiaki says. “This is about Pacific people helping Pacific people.”

The event is open to the public and promises to be a gathering of community, sport, and purpose. It will also highlight plans for Sione’s Foundation, which has been operating for nearly a decade.

“I’m just a Tongan kid who came back to give back. It’s not about what I’ve done, it’s about what we can all do, together.”

Tickets are available through Sione’s Foundation's Facebook page or via the event link on their bio via Facebook & Instagram.