'Be the wayfinder’: Pacific suicide prevention leader honoured

A Pacific suicide prevention worker has been recognised in the 2025 New Year Honours List, calling it an overwhelming and humbling acknowledgement.

Iosefo Joseph Fa’afiu (Faleapuna and Satui-mulufilufi, in Upolu, Sāmoa) has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to mental health, youth and the Pacific community.

Fa’afiu said he was so shocked reading the official email in October that he momentarily thought it was a scam.

“A myriad of things came to mind. I’m just really honoured to be on that list.

“I'm sure when it comes out, it's going to be a multitude of other people that have given back and served their community, the same as me, so very humbled.”

The New Year Honours List is an annual recognition conferred by the Governor-General on behalf of the King, celebrating individuals’ outstanding service across New Zealand.

Adding value to the community

Fa’afiu and his wife Lydia launched the HopeWalk Suicide Prevention Movement in 2015 after Fa’afiu lost a friend to suicide, which inspired him to address stigma and unite people.

Since the movement’s inception, approximately 100,000 people have participated in walks across New Zealand, Australia, and Canada, highlighting a “stronger together” ethos in the fight against mental health challenges.

Watch Iosefo Joseph Fa’afiu speaking on HopeWalk with Mandate below.

“2016 was the actual first walk, where 3000 people came for a walk with us.

“We then knew that there was a need. We’re not the only people in that space - there are incredible champions out there.

Fa’afiu has since worked with mental health professionals and believes that effective intervention resources are already present within local communities.

“All we wanted to do was collaborate with them and bring people together, providing them with the resources they needed in that community.

“That motivates me all the time - What can we do better? How can we apply ourselves? How can we fill the gaps in our community to actually add value? And also, how can we leave this world a better place when we leave it as well?

“There's always the whole thing where you want to just add value to the community.”

Iosefo Joseph and Lydia Fa’afiu were compelled to create a safe environment to unite people, like themselves, who have experienced similar loss of a loved one. Photo /HopeWalk.

Generational wealth

Fa’afiu acknowledged his wife and six sons for their steadfast support during his advocacy work.

“When I'm out travelling, my wife's at home with the boys, and there's been times where I've had to take the boys to do some marches and all that stuff.

“They’ve been on the journey with me, so I want to really acknowledge them as well.”

He also named his parents, Talevu Maloafua Fa'afiu and Malologa Fa'afiu, who brought him and his brother from Sāmoa in 1982, and his grandfather, Fa'afiu Setefano.

“He came over in the 1970s, went through all the mess with the Dawn Raids, came back, and then became the wayfinder for our family.

“Without them, obviously, we wouldn't be able to do what we do, but also for them for being the personification of servanthood and serving their communities and our people.”

‘Be the wayfinder’

Fa’afiu has written books that support children in navigating bullying and identity issues and encourage a foundation of resilience early in life.

One title, Little Poppy, addressed tall poppy syndrome and promoted celebrating individual achievements, a theme he believed was vital to empowering younger generations.

Fa’afiu encouraged youth to “keep challenging the status quo” and strive to become wayfinders for peers.

“Find the space in our community, find the gaps in our community and fill it with all your heart, fill it with who you are.

“There’ll be times when you feel like you just want to give up. One of the big things I've heard over the years is that with all these opportunities, there are people on the other side of you making the decision to keep going.

“Keep moving forward because there are people behind you, looking at you saying, ‘show me the way’ - Be the wayfinder.”