Leaupepe Legaoi Ta'alaRalph Elika Chief Executive Officer & Feagaimaali'i Sara-Jane Elika Executive Director School governance has always been shaped by the communities it serves. As those communities change, so too do the critical questions boards are asked to respond to. Across Aotearoa, school communities are becoming more diverse. Pacific, Māori, Asian and migrant communities are shaping the identity of schools, bringing different experiences, expectations, values, and wa

May 2026 Across Aotearoa New Zealand, school communities are changing rapidly. Walk into almost any classroom today and you will see a generation shaped by increasing cultural diversity, global connection, and a wider range of lived experiences than ever before. In many parts of the country, Pacific, Māori and Asian communities are now central to the identity of local schools — not emerging communities of the future, but the reality of the present. For school boards and gover

Introduction In Parts 1 and 2, we explored why the Pacific remains underrepresented within global philanthropy despite its strategic importance, and the structural barriers that continue to limit engagement across the region. But if the barriers are structural, the response must go beyond funding alone. Closing the Pacific philanthropy gap will require stronger pathways for partnership, better visibility of opportunities, more coordinated regional networks, and a long-term co

Introduction In Part 1, we explored why the Pacific remains overlooked within global philanthropy despite its strategic importance. This underinvestment is only part of the challenge. The deeper issue lies in the systems surrounding philanthropy itself — the structures, networks, and information pathways that influence how funding moves, who it reaches, and where trust is built. Without stronger systems for engagement, even willing donors can struggle to navigate the region e