In this newsletter,

• Hon. Aupito William Sio Farewell 

• Koe Pō Hiva Tu’ufonua FakaTonga II: A Night of Tongan Classical Music II  

• Colin Alanotama talks business on 531PI 

• Business Continuity Planning finale  

• Making Dreams Real – Indigo Sagala

• Meet The Buyer event 2023

• Hatch Pacific at Startup Ecosystem Enables Meetup 

• Pacific Talanoa The Future of Services Skills

• Volunteers of Volunteer Service Abroad  

• Set up payment plan to tackle GST debt 

• Whau Pasifika Festival

Hon. Aupito William Sio Farewell 

Our CEO, Mary Los'e, had the privilege of attending the farewell event hosted by the Wellington Pasifika Business Network in honor of Hon. Aupito William Sio.  

‘It was an evening filled with gratitude and admiration for his outstanding contributions to the Pacific communities.’ 

We want to express our deepest gratitude to Minister Aupito for your unwavering support in fostering and empowering our Pasifika people. Your commitment has been an inspiration to us all, and your impact on our growth will always be remembered.  

We take pride in having collaborated with Hon. Aupito during his tenure in Parliament, and we remain committed in carrying forward your legacy in supporting Pacific businesses.  

Fa'afetai tele lava Hon. Aupito, for your selfless service to the Pacific community and we wish you the very best in your future endeavors.

Koe Pō Hiva Tu’ufonua FakaTonga II: A Night of Tongan Classical Music II  

“Koe koloa ‘a Tonga ko e fakamālō”  

“Koia ai, ‘oku ou fakamālō lahi atu ‘aupito ki he mau takī, CEO ‘ae PBT, Mary Los’e pea moe toenga ‘ae kau ngauē ‘i he ma’u faingamālie ke fai ha ‘a‘ahi mo hono poupou’i ‘ae ouau kātoanga faiva na’e fakahoko ‘ane pō, pea ‘oku hounga kiate ki maua ‘ae poupou pea moe ‘ofa na’a ma lave monū ai. Mālō ‘aupito.” 

At PBT, we believe in the power of connection and celebrating our vibrant community. Over the weekend, two of our staff members Lesley from the Christchurch office and Marcheta from our Auckland office attended on behalf of PBT the event 'Koe Pō Hiva Tu’ufonua FakaTonga II: A Night of Tongan Classical Music II,' held at the Māngere Arts Centre.  

The evening showcased the best of both old and new Tongan songs performed by the talented Feohi'anga Ālonga 'ia Kalaisi kava and vocal-instrumental musical collective. 

Marcheta shared, "The music was beautiful and enchanting, and it was overwhelming to see the presence of Maori and Pacific peoples showing their support for our beloved Tongan community. The event started with opening and closing remarks from Professor Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu Dr. Ōkusitino Māhina. We were also honored to have the presence of former Minister for MPP, Hon Aupito William Sio and Labour MP Anahila Kanongata’a.” 

This musical event takes the richness of Tongan music in kava collectives to a whole new level, moving from garages, community halls and church spaces to the theatre space. As a team, we are truly inspired and hope to be able to attend more of these culturally significant events in the future, connecting with our community and celebrating the richness of our Pacific culture.  

Colin Alanotama talks business talanoa on 531PI. 

WATCH NOW

Colin Alanotama and his wife Ruihi became franchise owners of InXpress NZ in March 2021 after facing a restructuring at his previous job due to covid. Colin who is of Niuean background decided it was time for a fresh start and embraced the opportunity of entrepreneurship.  

In the last couple of weeks Colin actively participated in our Business Continuity Planning workshop series and gained insights that have benefited his role as a new franchise business owner. He harnessed this knowledge to overcome challenges and ensure the success of his InXpress franchise.  

In October last year, we shared Colin's story highlighting the market gap in low volume freight movements by small to medium businesses not receiving the same discounts as high volume freight moves. InXpress successfully filled this gap through their partnership with DHL Express and FedEx. 

This year, InXpress is proud to announce their services is now available domestically across Aotearoa. If you are a small to medium business owners seeking affordable and reliable courier services for your business get in touch with Colin Alanotama at colin.alanotama@inxpress.com or visit their website at InXpress.com. They will be happy to assist you.  

Business Continuity Planning Finale 

We are hosting the Business Continuity Planning series finale this Wednesday, 28 June at our Auckland office 45 O'rorke Road, Penrose from 4:30pm. Thank you to everyone who have already registered. If you attended 1 or multiple of our BCP series we’re inviting you to join us as we wrap-up our journey together.  

Highlights include: 

• The significance of BCP and practical guidance on using the Action Plan template 

• A recap of key concepts and real-life case studies 

• Support for completing your personal BCP Action Plan 

This session will be more a networking opportunity for you as well and for those attending, you will also have the chance to book a one-on-one BCP session with facilitator Isaac Robinson.

For catering purposes we encourage everyone to register if you’re attending or call 0800 287 7526 if you need to speak with someone. 

Register Here

Don't miss this opportunity to strengthen your business continuity planning. We look forward to celebrating the conclusion of this series with you. 

Making Dreams Real - Indigo Sagala

Indigo Sagala, the proud owner of Bindi Chewsdays Dance Company, is making waves in the Pacific community. Hailed from a household name, known through her father Brian Sagala QSM. Brian has a renowned reputation as a long-time emcee and radio host on Pacific Days at 531pi. Indigo has grown to be a young successful business owner in her own rights.  

Based in South Auckland, Indigo has become an inspiration for many young business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout New Zealand. Indigo says “Dance as a language, has the ability to communicate what words cannot” She believes, dance has the ability to impact and inspire people, here is her story.

"Growing up in South Auckland, extraordinary dreams weren't really sold". From a young age Indigo felt as if she was moulded into society's idea of a normal job however, her upbringing was specially shaped by her parent's creative influence. They instilled a confidence in her and often referred to her as a little superstar. Her grandpa who always believed in her greatness instilled characteristics of discipline, hardwork and spirituality. However, her passion for dance was influenced by her older brothers who used to dance as a form of expression. She shares that she would watch them krump (dance style) in the lounge and think to herself "I want to be a dancer when I grow up"

Indigo started dancing in High School for a competition called "Bring it On" and through this, her teachers saw potential in her leadership. She began leading groups at the mere age of 17 and went on to pursue dance after high school. Indigo received a scholarship to study performing arts at MIT and after studying she decided to make dance her chosen career. In her early years of dance, Indigo coached dance teams to the world hip hop championships in the USA alongside some of New Zealand's well renowned dance studios. These included Identity Dance Company, Neverland Dance studios and Dziah Dance Crew. Indigo went on to travel to the World Hip Hop championships 9 times as well as teaching dance classes worldwide. Her career highlight was coaching Auckland based dance crews Masque and Swagganauts to receive 2 x Bronze and 1 Gold medal for New Zealand. In 2017, after 10+ years of coaching dancers for other companies, Indigo decided to launch her own company "Bindi Chewsdays"

Bindi Chewsdays started running community dance classes and saw fast growth after a year, growing from 8 dancers per class to around 30-60 dancers per class. Her first Bindi Chewsdays event saw over 100 dancers in attendance and she hasn't slowed down since. She then went on to invest in other revenue streams such as Merchandise, Showcase Events, Online classes and more. After running Bindi Chewsdays for 4 years, Indigo joined Hatch Pacific. At the time Hatch Pacific was a 12-week programme run by Pacific Business Trust (PBT). This programme helps to create pathways for young Pacific business owners. Hatch Pacific also offers support, opportunities, new connections and enhanced leadership skills. Hatch Pacific is still running today as a free online programme for the pasifika community. At the completion of the programme, the cohort was encouraged to do a one-on-one assessment with Pacific Business Trust advisors for further support. 

As part of this support, Indigo received a personalised offering from PBT. This offering enabled her to invest in grants to services such as an accountant, new income streams, devices to help further the marketing design and more. Indigo strongly believes that without the help from PBT, Bindi Chewsdays wouldn't be as successful as they are today. The Hatch Programme also gave her the skills and tools to prepare herself for a longstanding journey in business. 

Indigo is now one of the team members for Hatch Pacific. She uses her experiences and expertise to empower fellow Pacific entrepreneurs through their journeys in business "Put people first". She thanks PBT for believing in her potential and providing opportunities to transform her dreams into reality. Her hope is that her journey becomes an inspiration to anyone out there who is scared to pursue their dreams. She also hopes to inspire her nieces, nephews and siblings to dream big and let nothing stand in your way. Indigo’s dedication and the support of PBT stands as an example of what can be achieved through hard work and perseverance.

Indigo shares her favourite quote: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths - Proverbs 3:5-6

To check out more about Indigo’s journey, click here.

Meet The Buyer Event 2023

In partnership with Amotai, PBT proudly presents the Meet the Buyer 2023 event—a unique opportunity for Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses to connect with buyers and enhance their core capabilities. Join us at Fale o Samoa located at 141 Bader Drive, Mangere on Wednesday, June 28th from 4pm - 8pm. 

This event is specifically designed to foster valuable partnerships and collaborations between buyers and Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses. Engage with like-minded entrepreneurs in your industry, exchange ideas and seize new opportunities. 

You will have the opportunity to participate in free workshops aimed at developing essential skills and knowledge for business growth, discover new strategies, expand your professional network and gain insights from industry experts.  

Register now to secure your spot and embark on a journey of growth and success. Don't let this opportunity pass you by! 

Register Here

Hatch Pacific at Startup Ecosystem Enables Meetup 

Our Hatch Pacific team had the privilege of attending the Startup Ecosystem Enablers Meetup event, organised by Tataki Auckland Unlimited. The intiative focuses on building a supportive environment that empowers startups in Auckland. 

While acknowledging the existence of ecosystems worldwide and in other cities, this event emphasised the absence of a dedicated ecosystem for Auckland. Additionally, it shed light on the limited support for startup initiatives from the government and advocated for increased backing. 

Thank you Tataki Auckland Unlimited for having us and we look forward to the development of the startup ecosystem in Auckland. 

Pacific Talanoa The Future of Services Skills

Final reminder you still have time to join Ringa Hora's interactive webinar series this week exploring and discussing ‘The Future of Services Skills.’ 

Choose from the following available sessions: 

Wednesday, June 28, from 6.30pm – 7.30pm

Thursday, June 29, from 12.00pm – 1.00pm 

Friday, June 30, from 10.00am – 11.00am

Whether you're in the industry, a business owner, an employee, or a member of the Pacific community, Ringa Hora wants your inpurt! These webinars provide opportunity for diverse Pacific voices to shape and inform the skills and qualifications of the Pacific workforce in the Service sector.  

It's our chance to ensure that vocational education meets the needs of industry, businesses, communities and most importantly, the Pacific people—both now and in the future.  

Spend just one hour of your time by joining any of the available sessions and let's shape the future of our Pacific community together. 

Volunteers of Volunteer Service Abroad  

What an incredible initiative and commitment for our Pacific communities abroad. It's truly amazing to witness the support our Pacific communities here extend to those beyond our borders.  

Last week, Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) celebrated National Volunteer Week, a special occasion to recognize and honor the dedicated volunteers currently serving abroad. Their selflessness, dedication, and commitment serve as an inspiration to us all.  

If you are someone who is interested in this line of work, get in touch with Tamar and the VSA team or visit their website and start your journey.  

Let’s build stronger communities through service and volunteerism. 

Set up payment plan to tackle GST debt 

Paying tax in one lump sum isn't always easy. Instead you can set up an instalment arrangement to spread your bill over smaller weekly or fortnightly repayments. There is no fee to set this up, and you won’t be charged penalties and interest. 

You can set up an instalment arrangement in myIR under the Payment section. Simply head to myIR, click on ‘I want to…’ then ‘Payments’. 

Click here to apply for instalment arrangement.

Apply for instalment arrangement

Whau Pasifika Festival

Check out West Auckland’s Whau Pasifika Festival, from July 1-7 for a little winter warmer. Staged over six-days at venues in Avondale, New Lynn and Kelston, the free festival will feature Pacific arts, dance and craft workshops, a special book reading, films and music. 

The PolyX Night food and craft market will prepare you for the fiafia night and fresh fashion show. Visit HERE to see the programme.  

‘Ofa ke mou ma’u ha uike fakakoloa. 

The PBT Team

www.pacificbusiness.co.nz

Ph 0800 287 7526