Latest news with #MinistryForPacificPeoples
RNZ News
03-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Pacific-Māori marriages lead new identity wave
By Aui'a Vaimaila Leatinu'u , PMN Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone Photo: Supplied Pacific people who marry outside their heritage often choose Māori partners, according to a Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) investigation into this increasingly shared identity among these populations. According to MPP's ongoing Insights Briefing , which aims to deepen the understanding of Māori and Pacific identity, there are around 90,000 people who identify as both Māori and Pacific in Aotearoa. "We also found that when Pacific people marry outside of [their culture], they will marry a Māori first," Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone, the Secretary for Pacific Peoples at MPP, told Khalia Strong on Pacific Mornings . "While we're different, there's also a lot of similarities. What I've found, as I've gone around talking to various iwi leaders, is that…we want these populations to be counted. "There are so many that have said, 'my moko [grandchild] is part Tongan, part Māori, and they speak both Māori and Tongan'. Others say, 'I know someone in my whānau, who's part Cook Island, part Māori, and they want to learn their Cook Island whakapapa' because they've been raised entirely with a Māori worldview." Clifford-Lidstone emphasised the significance of understanding these identities, saying that by 2043, nearly 40 per cent of New Zealand's population will identify as Māori or Pacific, which will impact workforce demographics, cultural experiences, language, and genealogical ties moving forward. "It's been a really fun and insightful process to participate in. The consultation's open for one more week, 9 July. I really encourage people who identify as both Māori and Pacific to participate." The MPP is facing nearly $36 million in funding reductions under Budget 2025, following a previous cut of $26m. Despite this, key policy priorities have been retained, with some new initiatives introduced. For example, the Tauola Business Fund ended and the Tupu Aotearoa employment programme scaled back, while funding for the Pacific Business Trust and Pacific Business Village continues. Despite a tighter budget, Clifford-Lidstone says major initiatives continue, including the Pacific Languages Strategy, Toloa STEM scholarships, and Pacific Media Innovation funding. "Then we've got our housing initiatives. So, the building of affordable homes, a programme as part of that called Our Whare Our Fale, which is looking at 300 homes in Porirua. Then the Financial Capability Programme. You may have seen in Budget 2025 some new money for Pacific Wardens," she says. "These really wonderful mātua and volunteers from our community who support the work of a range of agencies, particularly police, engaging with the community and ensuring that we are in a safe environment. We've still got a lot of work underway there on top of our policy programme." On the legacy Dawn Raids programme, she says the funding will remain until the 2026 to 2027 period, with the Vaka of Stories project helping to capture community narratives. Clifford-Lidstone adds that they have two years to complete specific deliverables, some of which have already been completed. She acknowledges the concerns around the planned cancellation of the nationwide Census survey, emphasising the importance of evidence-based data for delivering targeted services. Clifford-Lidstone says the Pacific community's pace of growth and change is rapid. "Our data and insights team have a formal agreement with Statistics New Zealand to work together on census planning and data standards. So, we're going to be working really closely with them to keep an eye on that particular issue. "We do want our communities to be accurately reflected and to be participating. That participation will change a little bit given that it's on admin data, we need the quality of that admin data to be good. So, that's a role that we will be playing." -This article was first published by PMN .
RNZ News
01-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Talofa lava - it's Samoan Language Week in Aotearoa
The 2025 theme for Samoa Language Week is 'Ia malu lou sā. Folau i lagimā - A well-grounded self, is a successful self'. Photo: Ministry of Pacific Peoples Events are being held across Aotearoa this week to celebrate Gagana Samoa, the Samoan language. The theme for 2025's Samoan Language Week is 'Ia malu lou sā. Folau i lagimā", which means "A well-grounded self is a successful self". After English and Te Reo Maori, Gagana Samoa is the third most spoken language in Aotearoa New Zealand. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is working alongside New Zealand Samoan communities to promote and support Samoan Language Week. Secretary for Pacific Peoples, Gerardine Clifford-Lidstone said there is a lot of alofa (love) for Gagana Samoa. "I encourage everyone to get involved - attend an event, learn from those around you, or simply take a moment to see how language continues to shape identity, connection, and pride," she said. Samoan Language Week is one of 12 Pacific language weeks marked this year. Rotuman was celebrated the week of 11 May, and next is Kiribati Language Week, starting 6 July.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
'Look at the plan for growth' - Pacific peoples minister on NZ budget
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi New Zealand's Pacific peoples minister says Pasifika people should see themselves in the Government's 2025 budget. It comes amid disappointment in the financial plan from several quarters, including from a Tongan Auckland community leader and from the opposition's Pacific peoples spokesperson, Carmel Sepuloni. The Budget included a funding cut for the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) of nearly NZ$36 million over the next four years - equating to $9m annually - and the closing of the Tauola Business Fund which will save $3.5m a year. But Dr Shane Reti told Pacific Waves the benefits set to come from the Budget will also benefit Pasifika in Aotearoa. Asked what he would say to people who are still reluctant or still doubtful about what this budget can deliver for Pacific peoples, Reti said: "I think what I'd say to them is look at the plan for growth. "It is an economic growth agenda. As inflation comes down, cost of living improves. Pasifika people benefit from that," he said. "As inflation comes down, interest rates come down; mortgage rates come down. Therefore it's an easier pathway into housing - that's got to benefit Pasifika people. "And the extra 240,000 jobs, Pasifika people will participate in that. "So I would anticipate that Pasifika see themselves in this budget. It is an economic growth agenda and Pasifika people will benefit from economic growth." Dr Reti said he has "complete confidence" that MPP will still be able to deliver its core services. "We need to understand that any reductions in budget are spread out over four years. "Our Toloa scholarships used to be completely managed - that is that alignment between applicants and the mission for the Toloa fund used to be managed by MPP. That is now outsourced to a specialist agency who, more effective and more efficiently is able to help us find the 300 people roughly that we're looking to support each year through the Toloa STEM scholarships. So that's an example of MPP becoming more effective, more efficient and better using the funding that it does have." On Wednesday, Dr Reti announced NZ$1 million over four years for the Auckland Pacific Wardens Trust. The funding is for established wardens in Auckland and South Waikato but Reti said he would like to see the initiative expand to other parts of the country. Reti said Pacific Wardens are a trusted and vital presence in communities.
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
'Bugger-all': Pasifika react to Budget 2025
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Key points A Tongan community leader says New Zealand's 2025 Budget is "a disappointment" for Pasifika. Funding for the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) has decreased by nearly NZ$36 million over the next four years - equating to $9m annually. The ministry saw $26m cut from the previous year's budget. Two initiatives, the Dawn Raids reconciliation programme and the Tauola Business Fund, are being scrapped entirely. The Dawn Raids programme will close in two years saving $420,000 annually. At the same time, the closing of the Tauola Business Fund aimed to support Pacific businesses in New Zealand grow will save $3.5m a year. The Pacific Business Programme will remain, awarding contracts to firms that support Pasifika startups with networking and strategy. The government found NZ$2.7 billion a year through its changes to pay equity, cut its own contributions to KiwiSaver, told 18 and 19 year olds it would no longer pay them to sit on the couch, and introduced a new Investment Boost tax incentive, which is tipped to increase New Zealand's GDP by one percent over the next 20 years. Auckland Tongan community leader Pakilau Manase Lua said the government had targeted the country's most vulnerable. "The Budget overall is just a disappointment," he said. "It was very much a 'B' budget: business, blue National budget and bugger-all for everybody else." Tupu Aotearoa, aimed at reducing the proportion of Pacific peoples who are unemployed, has been slashed by $5.5m a year. Just over $5m remains in the fund, while the rest of the saving will be consolidated into other employment support providers. "Our Pasifika communities are the most vulnerable and as a Tongan, our Tongan communities are the most vulnerable of the lot," Pakilau said. "When you've got so many things that are being cut, you can understand why our communities are so desperate that they'll go to loan sharks, they'll go to pyramid schemes." However, while disappointing, Pakilau said it is in line with what he expected. "You've got a coalition Ministry of Pacific Peoples, you had [David] Seymour saying he wanted to blow it up, so I'm not surprised really." Deputy Labour leader and her party's spokesperson for Pacific peoples Carmel Sepuloni is also disappointed. "It just goes to show their lack of value for Ministry of Pacific Peoples and I think population agencies in general," she said. Sepuloni said she would have thought programmes, such as the Tauola Business Fund, would have been a priority for this government. "Pacific have the highest rates of unemployment, the economy is doing badly, New Zealanders have lost jobs en masse; and disproportionately that has effected Pacific communities." RNZ contacted the Pacific Peoples Minister Dr Shane Reti but was told he was not available for an interview. Finance Minister Nicola Willis told RNZ Morning Report that, while the Budget is responsible, it has something for every New Zealander . "More funding for learning support in our schools; more funding for our hospitals, for our doctors, for our health system. It's called more funding for our police," she said. "Some people like to pretend that more funding just comes from a magic money tree, but actually, we're a country that is borrowing heavily at the moment. "We're a country that has more than doubled its debt, that is in deficit. We do have to manage our books carefully. We've made sure that every single one of those dollars has been very purposed towards services that New Zealanders rely on." Amongst the cuts, a new fund for Pasifika Wardens is being set up at a cost of $250,000 each year. Pakilau said the funding allocated for it is not much. "I suppose it's a good idea, but in the long game it's going to make very little dent in the problems that we're having on the ground, to be honest." Meanwhile, New Zealand's aid commitment to the wider region will decline over the next three years. As a percentage of national income, overseas development assistance had fallen from 33 percent to 23 percent. Pacific aid researcher Dr Terence Wood said this may stop New Zealand from being able to meet international commitments. "The aid budget is still falling, although the government has spent a little bit of extra money to prevent the fall from being as rapid as it had seemed like it was going to be at the last budget," he said.
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Budget 2025: MPP faces major cuts, yet new initiatives aim for support, development
By 'Alakihihifo Vailala , PMN Photo: RNZ Funding for the Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) is set to be reduced by almost $36 million in Budget 2025. This follows a cut of nearly $26 million in the 2024 budget. As part of these budgetary savings, the Tauola Business Fund will be closed. But, $6.3m per year will remain to support Pacific economic and business development through the Pacific Business Trust and Pacific Business Village. The Budget cuts also affect the Tupu Aotearoa programme, which supports Pacific people in finding employment and training, alongside the Ministry of Social Development's employment initiatives. While $5.25m per annum will still fund the programme, a total of $22m per year has been cut over the last four years. The ministry will save almost $1m by returning funding allocated for the Dawn Raids reconciliation programme from 2027/28 onwards. There are two years of limited funding left to complete the Ministry Dawn Raids programmes, which support the Crown's reconciliation efforts. Despite these reductions, a new initiative providing funding for Pasifika Wardens will introduce $1m of new spending over the next four years. The initiative will improve services to Pacific communities through capacity building, volunteer training, transportation, and enhanced administrative support. Funding for the National Fale Malae has ceased, as only $2.7m of the allocated $10m has been spent since funding was granted in Budget 2020. The remaining $6.6m will be reprioritised over the next two years to address other priorities within the Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio, including the National Music Centre. Foreign Affairs funding for the International Development Cooperation (IDC) projects, particularly focussed on the Pacific, is also affected. The IDC received an $800m commitment in 2021 from the Labour government. The funding was time-limited, leading to a $200m annual fiscal cliff starting in January 2026. Budget 2025 aims to mitigate this impact by providing ongoing, baselined funding of $100 million per year to cover half of the shortfall. An additional $5m per year will address a $10m annual shortfall in departmental funding. The new funding will support IDC projects, emphasising the Pacific region without being exclusively aimed at climate finance objectives. Overall, $367.5m will be allocated to the IDC over four years. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Budget addresses a prominent fiscal cliff, especially concerning climate finance. "The Budget addresses this, at least in part, through ongoing, baselined funding of $100 million a year, focused on the Pacific," she says in her Budget speech. "Members will not be surprised to know that the Minister of Foreign Affairs has made a case for more funding, and this will be looked at in future Budgets." More funding has been allocated for new homework and tutoring services for learners in Years nine and 10 at schools with at least 50 per cent Pacific students to meet the requirements for the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA). About 50 schools across New Zealand are expected to benefit from the initiative, which will receive nearly $7m over the next four years, having been reprioritised from funding for the Pacific Education Programme. As a result, funding will be stopped for three programmes aimed at supporting Tu'u Mālohi, Pacific Reading Together and Developing Mathematical Inquiry Communities. -This article was first published by PMN .
