Working to a shared goal of supporting Pacific people in Tāmaki Makaurau the Pacific Business Trust is delighted to have formalised our working partnership with Auckland Unlimited with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

The signing of the MoU between the Pacific Business Trust and Auckland Unlimited is reflective of a lot of work both agencies have already done together and formalises the partnership to advise on economic matters and initiatives that benefit Pacific communities.

Both agencies shared goal of supporting Pacific people and communities in Tāmaki Makaurau to have economic choice and live socially and economically prosperous lives includes building Pacific business and entrepreneur capability and performance; creating sustainable pathways to youth employment; social procurement and social enterprise; and innovation and tech.

Left to right: Pelenato Sakalia, Chief Executive, PBT and Nick Hill, Chief Executive, Auckland Unlimited sign MoU

Pacific Business Trust Chief Executive Pelenato Sakalia says of the magnitude of the work "Providing our Pacific communities quality and culturally appropriate support has never been more critical. Auckland has number of Pacific people who are impacted by existing inequalities, as well as shouldering additional caring and financial responsibilities for extended families. By collaborating with Auckland Unlimited, the Pacific Business Trust will be able to deliver even more comprehensive wraparound support services vital to the lift of our Pacific communities."

Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive Nick Hill says the memorandum of understanding reinforces the ongoing work the agency does with the Pacific Business Trust, and acknowledges the important role Pacific people play in the social, cultural and economic landscape of Auckland.

"Auckland’s ethnic and cultural diversity is one of the greatest assets we have in working towards an inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future for the region. Pacific Aucklanders are a predominantly young, urban, connected and creative talent pool that we need to enable and champion."

Left to right: Cr Josephine Bartley, Pelenato Sakalea, PBT Chair Tevita Funaki, Cr Alf Filipaina

Auckland Unlimited legacy organisation Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) started developing a Pacific work programme in 2018, the first regional economic development agency in New Zealand to do so.

It aimed to address that groups within Auckland’s Pacific communities were not sharing the prosperity and opportunity in the region, and the programme outlined a way for ATEED to play its part in lifting social wellbeing and economic prosperity.

Auckland Unlimited’s Pacific work programme includes delivering workplace-based training component for the Ministry of Business, Industry and Employment’s four-year Auckland Pacific Skills Shift Initiative; supporting TupuToa, the Māori and Pacific graduate internship programme and the Pacific Business Trust Awards; delivering the Pasifika Festival; participating in the Pasifika Festivals Initiative, overseen by Ministry of Culture and Heritage, Creative New Zealand and Ministry for Pacific Peoples.

As the nation’s Pacific economic development agency PBT delivers business focused programmes as well as encouraging private sector collaborations to enable Pacific businesses to grow and thrive. PBT provides support and resources to Pacific businesses, organisations and sole-traders within Aotearoa to improve capability and capacity, and fuel prosperity, and  recently reached its 35-year milestone.