Romeo Tevaga

Portfolios: Indigenous Knowledge & Language, Oceans for the Wellbeing of People and Places, and Youth.

Prior to joining the National Commission as a Senior Advisor in 2022, Romeo worked at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as a Policy Advisor within the Immigration (Border and Funding) Team. This role was a return to MBIE where he kicked off his career as a Tupu Tai Policy Intern in 2016 with a notable highlight of facilitating the joint INZ and Samoa Immigration hosting of the Pacific Immigration Directors’ Conference in 2017 in Apia.

Romeo has an extensive background in the education sector including leading schools and community-based education initiatives as well as working as the Schools Advisor for the University of Auckland looking after the Taranaki, Manawatū, and Wairarapa regions. In 2018, he moved to Wellington to take on a number of Policy Analyst roles at the Ministry of Education including within the Tertiary Education Funding and Fees policy team, and the Pacific Education policy team.

He has been involved as a representative for youth and Pasifika on several local and national steering groups and special interest groups.

Romeo has a particular interest in Māori, Pacific and indigenous affairs, social policy and international relations and development.

He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Art majoring in Pacific Studies and Sociology and a BA Hons in Development Studies from the University of Auckland.