Package to help young Pacific people progressing

A PACKAGE to build skills, qualifications and entrepreneurship amongst young Pacific peoples is approaching the final stages, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs said today.

Dr Colin Tukuitonga, Chief Executive, said the Ministry will soon be inviting tender applications from a number of Pacific agencies and organisations in Auckland who had built a reputation in this area including the Pasifika Education Centre, the Pacific Business Trust, the Village Trust, C- Me Mentoring and the Pacific Economic Development Agency.

“In the selection process we will be looking for a cost-effective, well developed and compelling business plan. The organisations should also have a good reputation and a track record for delivering Pacific youth orientated programmes.

“Since last year’s jobs summit some of these agencies, supported by Te Wananga o Aotearoa, have put a number of young Pacific people through courses which incorporate business development skills, administration, computing and so forth. Demand has been such that some of their courses were over-subscribed.”

Dr Tukuitonga said the Ministry was also talking to other key players such as the Tertiary Education Commission, Industry Training Organisations, the Department of Labour and the Ministry of Social Development about how the agencies can improve their effectiveness for Pacific youth.

“Investing in the future success of Pacific peoples is critical to New Zealand’s future.

“By 2025 Pacific peoples will be almost 10 percent of our population. It’s in all our interests to ensure that today’s young Pacific people are equipped for their future roles.”

Dr Tukuitonga said the Ministry expected to have final proposals by late September.

New funding for advancing Pacific people’s development has come from Budget 2010.

ENDS

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