March 2024 has seen a number of important speeches and economic discussions regarding the future of the New Zealand economy coupled with the value of contribution by Pacific Peoples. Directors Leaupepe Ta’ala Ralph and Sara Jane Elika recently attended the Annual Minister of Finance lunch hosted by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce as well as the Mana VIP Function with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Pacific peoples at Polyfest 2024.
Having a 'shot of optimism' while driving harder for real economic growth was the theme at the Annual Finance Lunch with Minister of Finance, Hon. Nicola Willis – the first major economic speech of 2024. As a small-medium consultancy, there was a sense of encouragement to hear that the government will work smarter to activate small business communities to focus on real productive sustainable growth through the markets and customer segmentation, from new international buyers and new industries.
The Minister advocated for growing skills that are relevant for improving educational achievement which was one of the five key themes to driving change. Attracting Kiwi talent and advancing education was to look at a redesign of vocational training to bring about more responsiveness, efficiency and relevance.
An aspirational mindset and new growth pace is required for businesses to come alongside and work together on this current growth mission says the Minister. The challenge put forward by the Minister to businesses was to tell the government what contributions business can make. “Before describing the problem to us, think also how you’re going to help fix it.”
For ECG, this approach sits firmly in our mission of contributing to the New Zealand economy by advancing Pacific success. We do this through building capability and growing capacity within the future workforce of the New Zealand economy with Pacific peoples positioned to be highly influential in the future of work.
With two thirds of the Pacific population living in Auckland (244,000) and a third of the Pacific population in Auckland aged 0-14 years (78,000), the Pacific population is homegrown, New Zealand born, young and growing quickly.1
At ECG, our work revolves around connecting the dots for organisations and businesses that want optimum productivity for their workforce, by understanding the levers that can enhance and improve their bottom line through staff, client and customer relationships. “Our services of Strategy, Engagement and Evaluation sit right at the heart of transformational change and change management.“ says Sara-Jane, one of the Directors for ECG.
One of the calls for action highlighted by Minister Willis, is to drive more value in government spending and celebrate New Zealand’s treasures. Treasures that we believe includes the recent Polyfest Secondary School Cultural Celebration where Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Winston Peters and Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon. Dr. Shane Reti, were in attendance.
At the Polyfest VIP Mana function, both Ministers acknowledged the importance of the festival where it serves not just as a platform to showcase Māori and Pacific cultural performances, but realises the strong relationship between Aotearoa and the Pacific through its shared history, language and culture across the Blue Continent, the moana-nui- a-kiwa.
The Deputy Prime Minister emphasised a stronger collaboration and support for Pacific people through cultural initiatives like Polyfest, which he described as a “beacon of pride and unity for Māori and Pacific communities”. These initiatives are essential to promoting intergenerational leadership and protecting cultural wellbeing.
The Deputy Prime Minister described the Blue Continent as a connection to the Pacific and acknowledged the Pacific Islands Forum as an essential platform to sustain ties between Aotearoa and the Pacific. These ties and relationships are of critical importance when building bridges between our young NZ born Pacific populations and their homelands in the Pacific.
Hollyanna Ainea, a teacher from Tangaroa College (TC) and co-teacher in charge for TC Samoan Group, continues to express gratitude for events like Polyfest.
“Polyfest is a communal celebration of our ancestors and as a tama’ita’i Sāmoa, Polyfest has gifted me the opportunity to build a deeper and much more profound love for the daughters and sons of Sāmoa.”
Polyfest celebrated its 49th year anniversary which attracted up to 100,000 people to support over 8,000 high school students who competed across the Cook Islands, Aotearoa, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and the diversity stage representing Pacific, Māori and Asian cultures. The government announced a $60,000 investment into Polyfest for its 50 year celebrations in 2025.
1 aucklandunlimited.com Pacific research ‘Teu le Va’ June 2021.