New Zealand’s Future Workforce

Monday, 7 August 2006

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Upskilling P.A.S.I.F.I.K.A. - New Zealand’s Future Workforce

Pacific people will soon make up a large proportion of the New Zealand population and workforce. P.A.S.I.F.I.K.A. acronym for Prosperity, Achievement, Safety, Identity, Family, Inspiration,
Knowledge and Access offers better awareness and understanding of
Pasifika’s different cultures and the opportunities they provide.

PACIFICally WELLINGTON (formally Spacifically Pacific) is quickly becoming an icon event in the Capital and has been running successfully since 2002.

The vision of Pacifically Wellington is P.A.S.I.F.I.K.A FAMILIES LEADING THE WAY through raising awareness of opportunities available to all, and to actively engage with Pacific youth, families and the wider community.

PACIFICally WELLINGTON a.k.a. PACWELL is a regional strategy celebrating Pasifika culture, talent and success. Primarily targeting Pacific students and families, PACWELL bridges the ‘skills and information gap’ prevalent amongst Pacific communities.

Wellington’s PACWELL event provides a collaborative one-stop shop for access to information, education and training, careers and employment, culture, business, community, safety, music, sports, health and fitness.

PACWELL 2006 has organised a series of events starting with a free EXPO and over 35 exhibitor stalls at the Queens Wharf Events Centre on Tuesday 8th August from 9am to 4pm and a Cultural Festival featuring school performances on Wednesday 9th August starting at 7pm (cost $5). A free evening of Extravaganza entertainment will be held at the Michael Fowler Centre on Thursday 10th August starting at 7pm. Line up includes local talent International Opera Singer ‘Benjamin Fifita Makisi’ and hip-hop band ‘Beetrootz’ as well as popular duo ‘Adeaze’, NZ Idol winner ‘Rosita Vai’ and from Australia the X Factor winners and R & B superstars ‘Random’.

CEO of New Zealand Institute of Sport (NZIS) and lead agency for PACWELL 2006, Fiso John Fiso, says “PACWELL has been a labour of love for the organisers, the big picture is working together to showcase talent, success, skills and opportunities for communities, a timely investment aiming to develop a future pool of skilled labour”. Fiso reports that the event has grown from strength to strength with opportunities for agencies and corporate partners to become involved next year.

The importance of Pacific people in the workforce is likely to expand more quickly than for the population as a whole. The proportion of the young workforce (those under 30) of Pacific ethnicity is likely to be greater still. Statistics New Zealand projects that Pacific people are expected to make up 11.7% of the population aged 15-29 in 2021 (compared with 8.1% for all age groups).

Pacific peoples’ cultures can influence social and economic opportunities providing social enrichment, skills and capital to foster trade and economic growth. Acceptance of cultural differences will enable New Zealand to capitalise on the enormous resource of different skills, perspectives and networks that diversity brings.

Be part of PACWELL 2006 this week! Building a healthy and strong future together!
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