Cameron Brewer hands out BEST Mayor of Auckland Awards

BEST Pacific Institute of Education graduation ceremony
Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau

Friday, 28 June 2013

Speech notes: Auckland Councillor Cameron Brewer, representing Mayor Len Brown

Brewer hands out BEST Mayor of Auckland Awards

Talofa lava. Malo e lelei. Kiaorana. Bula Vinaka. Warm Pacific greetings.

Good morning, I’m delighted to be here today to celebrate the fantastic achievements of our Pasifika community.

Auckland Mayor, Len Brown, sends his apologies for not being able to make it in person today, but I am very pleased to be asked to represent him.

Today is the first BEST celebration I’ve had the pleasure of attending, and everything I see before me – the energy, the vibrancy, the enthusiasm, the sense of potential – embodies the things that are so great about Auckland’s Pasifika community.

Our city, of course, is home to the largest Polynesian population in the world and Pasifika faces, languages, and traditions are such a big part of the Auckland story.

And that’s only going to increase in coming years: by 2030, one in every five Aucklanders will be Pasifika – nearly 50% more than today.

That means for Auckland to truly become the best city in the world to live, work and visit, there needs to be a transformational change in social and economic standards for Pasifika.

We need our young Pasifika people leaving school with clear pathways into further education, training or employment.

We want Pasifika people securing high-paying jobs in new, dynamic areas of the economy.

Through the Auckland Plan, we as a Council are strongly focused on bringing our Pasifika communities to the forefront of Auckland’s growth and prosperity.

And organisations like BEST have a vital role to play by making sure Pasifika, young and old, are given the tools they need to succeed.

I know BEST’s record speaks for itself: nowhere else in the Private Training Establishment sector are Pasifika students achieving as highly in qualification completion, student progression and student retention.

Each year, BEST secures employment for over 800 graduates, meaning a massive contribution to the Auckland economy over the last 25 years.

Anita Finnigan, the founder and Chief Executive of BEST, deserves huge credit for this and for her long-standing advocacy for Pasifika.

BEST has grown into the largest Private Training Establishment in the country, with over 2,500 students and multiple campuses across Auckland. And I know the BEST team have big aspirations for the future.

To those students graduating today, congratulations.

Looking out at the pride I see in your faces and the faces of your families, I’m extremely optimistic about not only your futures, but the future of our city.

Today is both an opportunity to reflect on your achievements so far and contemplate where your next steps may take you.

Traditionally, Pasifika success has been seen most often on the sports field. Thankfully, this is changing. New Pasifika leaders are emerging in business, the arts, and politics, but we need more.

That’s why your achievements at BEST are so important.

And that’s why, on behalf of the Mayor and the Council, I’m proud to launch the BEST Mayor of Auckland Awards, which the BEST team will speak about shortly.

These two inaugural BEST Mayor Of Auckland Awards are for Outstanding Achievement By A Pasifika Youth (winning recipient later announced was Mele Vea) and Pasifika Industry Trailblazer (Poulima Salima).

Today is a special day, and you should all be extremely proud.

Thank you.

www.cameronbrewer.co.nz

ENDS

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