In this newsletter:

• Meet our Pacific businesses and organisations

• Your workplace wellbeing with First Steps

• Employment agreements made easy

• Workshop calendar

Meet our Pacific businesses and organisations

Introducing Pacific entrepreneurs Paul Titus, Unasa Darren Jones and Carla Ta’akimoaka. Hear about what they are doing and why, and their advice as they talanoa with Brian Sagala on 531pi.

Palmerston North Papua New Guinea Community Trust (PNPNGCT) 

Meet Paul Titus, from the Palmerston North Papua New Guinea Community Trust (PNPNGCT). Started in 2019, PNPNGCT serves and supports PNG and Solomon Island businesses with opportunities and training, such as helping to gain access to community services and developing capability to contribute to the local community and the wider economy. Via the Trust, Paul is also working with the social enterprise Wantok Coffee NZ, a coffee distribution and roastery that imports and sells green coffee beans to roasters grown by family members in PNG to NZ. The goal is to remove the middleman from current PNG coffee suppliers to provide more opportunities for people in PNG and NZ. To find out more, contact Paul at pnpngct@gmail.com 

Pasefika Employment Partnerships (PEP)

Unasa Darren Jones operates Pasefika Employment Partnerships, or PEP for short, which has a mission of creating and securing employment for Pasifika people in the New Zealand regions. PEP is a response to the issues of prosperity, financial hardships, and the housing requirements Pasifika people still face. Darren along with co-director Irene Ranginewa Kereama-Royal partner with large employers across the country and connect workers with job opportunities, as well as providing wraparound care, relocation services and cultural support to help Pasifika families into secure jobs and home ownership in the regions.

Urban Kurl Studios

Carla Ta’akimoaka is the owner and lead stylist of hair salon Urban Kurl Studios which she opened in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. Carla is passionate about promoting the natural beauty and individuality of hair of Pasifika and Māori, and specialises in hair care, styling and braiding of curly hair. Hear her journey in business and advice for those looking to start. Urban Kurl Studios is now in two locations in Avondale and Royal Oak, contact here.

Your workplace wellbeing with First Steps

First Steps provides expert health and wellbeing support and resources to business leaders and would like to welcome you to their new Workplace Risk Wellbeing Diagnostic Tool. Designed for small businesses, owners can get a snapshot of their workplace wellbeing and receive recommendations that can help.

Watch the introductory video to the tool with Hillary Bennet who is an organisational psychologist here.

Explore how you can support and protect the wellbeing of your workplace here.

Employment agreements made easy

Need help creating employment agreements (contracts) for your staff? Why not try the Employment Agreement Builder? This tool via Employment New Zealand allows you to draft a variety of employment agreements to meet your business needs. Employment agreements are a legal requirement for all your employees – and a great foundation for a healthy, constructive working relationship Know your rights and responsibilities

If you are unsure of your employment rights or responsibilities, our Employment Learning Modules are there to help you. These free interactive learning modules provide an overview of what’s required by law of employers and employees. The latest module – An introduction to your employment obligations – is ideal for employers keen to know more about employment law. We also have a basic module for employees, An introduction to your employment rights – which is available in English, Samoan, and Tongan.

Workshop Calendar

Calling all those in the construction and trades industries to book into our industry focused workshops

Over the next eight weeks Pacific businesses will be able freely join courses on how to become tender ready and meet the procurement requirements of buyers.

Check out the calendar below and book your spot to attend Procurement Readiness | Thursday, 28 July 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM | AUCKLAND Up-to-the-minute knowledge and expertise on procurement and is designed for construction businesses.

Procurement Tendering and Pricing | Thursday, 4 August 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM | AUCKLAND An introduction to pricing tenders and demonstrating good practice. Health and Safety | Thursday, 11 August 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | AUCKLAND This workshop introduces you to key health and safety concepts and obligations you should know and understand as a small to medium business owner.

Environmental and Sustainability Management workshop | Thursday, 18 August 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM | ONLINE Understand key environmental management and sustainability risks and opportunities that every business in New Zealand needs to be aware of and, how to successfully manage them in your business.

Risk Management | Thursday, 25 August 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM | ONLINE Small to medium-sized businesses can find out the key concepts of risk management from experts in this area.

Subcontracting Legal Rights | Thursday, 1 September 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM | ONLINE Learn the key legal concepts involved in any contracting arrangement, with an emphasis on construction subcontracts. This workshop will help contractors of all sizes.