17/06/2026
Today, we pause to honour and remember an extraordinary woman, a trailblazer, advocate, leader, and champion for Pasifika education, Yvette Guttenbeil-Po’uhila. 🤍🕊️
Yvette was a force of nature within Aotearoa’s education sector and across the Pacific. Rising through the Ministry of Education to become the first National Chief Advisor, Pacific Education, she dedicated her life to one purpose above all else: creating better futures for our tamariki and Pasifika communities.
At TROW Group and through our Open Classroom Programme, we were privileged to witness firsthand the impact of Yvette’s leadership. What began as an idea to support at-risk youth into training, employment, and brighter futures became a reality because Yvette saw its potential. She possessed the rare ability to navigate complex systems while never losing sight of the people those systems were meant to serve.
Yvette connected us with Tamaki College and many other schools across Tāmaki Makaurau, opening doors that allowed Open Classroom to grow into beyond anything we thought it may be. She believed deeply that every young person deserved a pathway to succeed, and she worked tirelessly to make those pathways accessible.
Whau Pasifika Trust was just one chapter in Yvette’s remarkable story of service. Alongside her husband Pou, through their involvement with VIP Barbers, local businesses, churches, and community initiatives, Yvette gave generously of her time, knowledge, and heart. Her influence extended far beyond boardrooms and government offices; it was felt in homes, classrooms, churches, and communities throughout Aotearoa and the Pacific.
As we prepare to lay Yvette to rest this Saturday, we reflect on a woman whose impact cannot be measured by titles alone. She was a mentor, a connector, a visionary, and one of New Zealand’s most influential Pasifika leaders in education. We are incredibly proud to have known her, to have been guided by her wisdom, and to have witnessed her unwavering commitment to uplifting our people.
We also wish to acknowledge and send our deepest love and condolences to Yvette’s husband, Pou. Many within the TROW whānau will remember Pou not only as a respected colleague, but as one of our valued truck drivers and apprentices. We thank you for being the bridge that connected our worlds. During this incredibly difficult time, please know that the entire TROW whānau stands beside you and your family. Our thoughts, prayers, and hearts are with you as we celebrate the life of a truly remarkable woman.
Moe mai rā, Yvette. Your legacy lives on in every young person empowered through education. Rest easy knowing that your work has transformed lives and that your legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. 💫
"Let us not be defined by the smallness of our islands, but by the greatness of our oceans. We are Oceania."
