Anahila Kanongata'a is a New Zealand politician who, according to a secondary source, has served as a List Member of Parliament for the New Zealand Labour Party from 2017 [23][24][28].
According to a secondary source, her early working life included roles as a bank teller [1] and a mailroom worker at the Department of Social Welfare [4]. She went on to study at the University of Auckland [21] and subsequently pursued a career as a social worker [8], including positions in child, youth, and family departments [9] as well as social work in community and voluntary services in New Zealand and Tonga [7].
According to a secondary source, Kanongata'a held social work and managerial positions within Oranga Tamariki in South Auckland [6], including roles as a supervisor and manager of social workers at that organisation [10]. She is also reported to have held senior management roles in the public and voluntary sector more broadly [5].
Outside of formal employment, she has been involved in a range of civic activities. According to a secondary source, she has served as a volunteer radio broadcaster at Radio Tonga of Aotearoa from 2020 [11], conducted a monthly community broadcasting session [3], and held roles as a member of Radio Tonga [16] and as a director of Letiō Tonga o Aotearoa (Radio Tonga of Aotearoa) from 2022 [20]. She is also reported to have been a member of Pacifica Inc [15], a member of the Tongan Language Year Committee [17], and a trustee of New Horizons for Women Trust: Hine Kahukura [13]. According to a secondary source, she has served as a director of Fonu Moe Moa Aotearoa Society Incorporated, a social services community group, from 2022 [19].
Within the Labour Party, she is reported to have served as vice chair of Labour's women's council [18] and as chair of the Manurewa electorate committee [14]. In 2023, according to a secondary source, she stood as a candidate for the Papakura electorate [2]. At the parliamentary level, she is reported to have served as Chairperson of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Pacific Region [22], a role that, according to a separate secondary source, began in 2019 [12].