Hui Fono 2026
Kaikōrero | Masters of Ceremonies
Hui Fono is only as good as the people who hold the space, and this year we have two exceptional emcees who bring warmth, mana, and the kind of energy that makes a room come alive. Get to know them.
Nohorua Hawaikirangi Parata
Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāti Toa and Te Ātiawa
Born into leadership and ancestrally grounded, Nohorua Hawaikirangi Parata brings a rare combination of whakapapa, lived experience, and infectious energy to any space he walks into. Bestowed with a tūpuna name and shaped by legacy leadership, including the political mana of his māmā Meka Whaitiri and his late godfather, the beloved Parekura Horomia, Nohorua carries the weight of that lineage with remarkable humility.
He has served as tumuaki takirua (co-president) of Te Mana Ākonga, the National Māori Tertiary Students' Association, and as a research intern for Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga, where he worked on digital solutions for iwi. By day he works in public health. By the weekend, you might find him on the golf course with his NZ Sāmoan best mate (follow their haerenga at Brown Boy Bogeys on IG).
Nohorua made his emcee debut at Hui Fono 2023 in Whakatū, mentored in succession by Pale "in the whare" Sauni, a veteran of the craft. He went on to support the 2023 and 2024 ACE Conferences alongside emcee Te Ataahia Hurihanganui, before stepping into his solo Hui Fono emcee role in 2025. This year, he returns to the Hui Fono floor, this time alongside Saylene Ulberg-Tanielu. A familiar face, a fresh dynamic, and a room in very good hands.
Saylene Ulberg-Tanielu
A powerhouse facilitator and Pacific educator, Saylene Tanielu-Ulberg brings warmth, cultural depth, and sharp facilitation instincts to Hui Fono. Her work has long centred on elevating Pacific values and learning frameworks in adult education, weaving concepts like tautua (servant leadership) and talanoa into practice in ways that genuinely transform how educators engage with Pacific learners.
Currently pursuing a Masters in Education Practice, Saylene is someone who keeps growing, keeps learning, and keeps showing up for her communities. She brings that same spirit to the Hui Fono floor.