Ko te ahurei o te tamaiti aroha o tätou tamaiti mahi – let the uniqueness of the child guide our work
(whakatauki)

Mihi mahana kia koutou e hoa ma! Malo ni! My name is Tito Kisona, I am of Tokelau decent, born
and raised in the greatest city ever Cannons Creek – Porirua! A community that has fostered the
importance of who I am, my culture and faith.

I am a father of 4 children, a set of twins, a girl, and our foster son (yes, it is a busy household) and a husband to one! (ha ha) – so the daily art of multi-tasking and having flexibility whilst remaining personable, positive and approaching tasks hands-on is a 24.7 thing and definitely transferable in other aspects of my work. My first experience at Challenge was my final placement in my social work studies. What I was drawn to was the awhi shown to me by the staff here. I was based as a Social Worker at Taita college which reinforced my ‘why’ I am a social worker, what it also did was confirm the alignment in the work challenge does and I align well with the values that guides me.

As a new practitioner my hope is to work in a capacity where the above whakatauki is upheld –
acknowledging the Mana Rangatahi and their whānanu carry and the uniqueness of who they are. Regarding my social work practice, this is my starting point, my first right answer – the next step will be the journey together.

I look forward to creating intentional connections with those I walk alongside, I am excited about growing as a social worker in an environment that privileges people – their Mana, their stories, their potential first.

Totō hau tokiga nei, auā na tupulaga e fai mai – plant a seed today, for our future generations
(Tokelau proverb). Fakafetai.