TAVAKE AFEAKI
International Expert Speaker
Inspiring through Expertise
Tavake has spoken on a range of subjects to audiences as a keynote speaker and Emcee at national and international law conferences, investment symposiums, trade missions, chambers of commerce events, cultural exchange events, professional trainings of lawyers, mediators, public officials, reunions, weddings, funerals and social events over many years.
Tavake has spoken to audiences from small to thousands and is comfortable in any setting, whether among lawyers, judges, business people or politicians. With a wide general knowledge, humour, panache and even an appropriate song for impact, he is able to ‘tailor’ his speeches to almost any topic, to make these relevant to the audience and to the aims of the event.
He is a natural, confident and persuasive public speaker who is able to put an audience at ease while informing new perspectives and lifting them up. With Tavake speaking at your event, you can be confident that your audience will be entertained and inspired.
Watch Tavake Live In Action
This video shows Tavake Afeaki delivering a keynote speech titled: “30 years on Maori Law Society Navigating Change: how best to serve our people”.
This was at the 2018 World Indigenous Lawyers Conference in New Windsor, Canada.
Powerful Subject Matters
Overcoming Adversity
& Trauma
One of the most traumatic experiences Tavake has overcome was when he broke his neck playing rugby. This gave him a new profound appreciation for the life he had been given a second chance at. It has been a transformative journey that has established in him a great sense of gratitude, resilience, and empathy –moving him to inspire others with the insights and attitudes that he has acquired throughout his many adversities.
Inspiring Life
Experiences
Observing good people maintaining their dignity in protest movements while others behaved badly, violently. Participating in transformative political movement for good. Being with loved ones and family as our elders passed away, with songs and prayers from us. Being inspired by my wife’s strength at the births of our four children. Inspired by Nelson Mandela leading South Africa out of Apartheid to Reconciliation and new government without mass war. Inspired by 80 and 90 year old Karate Masters teaching and mentoring students.
Business
History
After working for many other people, Tavake took to the advice of his father –that to start his own business would be a powerful agent for change. He has run his own law firm as a Barrister for over 19 years which has enabled him to pursue and outwork his own vision and purpose and diversify over many different cases.
Culture &
Inter-Cultural Contexts
Tavake has Tongan, Maori, and British heritage and grew up between Tonga, Wellington, and Auckland so he has a comprehensive understanding of his surrounding cultures and values. He has worked closely in both inter-cultural contexts serving as a lawyer in Tonga and Lord Chancellor to their King, as well as over 25 years of involvement with Waitangi Tribunal Inquiries and Settlements healing grievances for Maori and the Crown. Moreover, he lived in Japan for three years teaching English and was later involved in business trade there. Having been deeply immersed in relationships and business in these many cultural contexts, he easily builds rapport with anyone, can engage any audience and can elegantly relate different cultures to one another humorously and respectfully through his vast knowledge of cultural: customs, traditions and values.
Martial Arts,
Sports, Music
Tavake has practiced and obtained a range of skills and disciplines through Martial Arts, Sports and Music which have formed his deep value for nurturing passion, growth, discipline, and holistic well-being. Tavake represented Auckland in the Under 19’s Rugby Team and a while after recovering from his neck injury, he then moved to Japan to be trained by a Black-Belt Sensei for three years where he represented Tonga at two World Karate Tournaments, Tavake’s a 2nd Dan Black Belt. Music has been a joy for Tavake and his family since he was young, and he finds refuge in it daily having recently taken to playing guitar and singing live online daily.
Leadership
& Teamwork
For three terms, Tavake co-led the New Zealand Maori Law Society which involves coordinating internal and external collaborations between legal practitioners, judges, parliamentarians, legal academics, policy analysts, researchers, and Māori law students to deliver conferences, seminars, and workshops to hundreds of Maori lawyers with the mutual desire to see change within and for their Iwi/tribes. Tavake has mentored many young lawyers over the years and collaborated with others to set up mentoring schemes, support lawyers under stress and for male lawyers. With his colleagues, Tavake established relationships between Te Hunga Roia and the New Zealand Law Society, the NZ Law Commission and other community service bodies. Building lawyers’ individual capacities as well as collective abilities to enable better quality service to society is a driving force for Tavake.
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