20 February 2014

Government agencies to front in PACIFICA Dragons’ Den

When the national Pacific women’s organisation P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A. (PACIFICA) holds their annual conference in Wellington tomorrow, they will hear government agencies pitch key Pacific initiatives.

The Friday programme starts with a Dragons’ Den of senior officials who will highlight their key initiatives for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand. PACIFICA members will be able to ask questions about their initiatives and determine which programmes PACIFICA might support.

National President Tagaloatele Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop says the Dragons’ Den is a way of hearing what and how government agencies are supporting Pacific people living in New Zealand.

“Pacific families helped to build Aotearoa New Zealand since they first started arriving in the 1940s-50s to find a better life for themselves and their future families,” Tagaloatele Peggy says. “But the ‘land of milk and honey’ proved to be a land of mostly labouring jobs and very little money.”

The Ministries of Education, Health and Social Development are very influential in Pacific peoples lives, she adds. “It’s important to hear from the ministries how they support us and hopefully we can offer feedback on what works well or what needs improving.”

The 2014 Conference theme is “Make yours a happy home”.

Tagaloatele Peggy says the theme recognises their belief that Pacific women are vital to setting the Pacific agenda in Aotearoa New Zealand and making a difference in the lives of Pacific families across all dimensions.

She is delighted that the Hon Taria Turia, Co-leader of the Maori Party and Associate Minister for Social Development will open the conference tomorrow evening.

“We have long admired Tariana’s commitment to Pacific families and communities and it’s so uplifting, that in her final year in Parliament, she is able to honour us with her presence,” says Tagaloatele Peggy.

The conference is being held at the Brentwood Hotel in Kilbirnie, Wellington and runs from 21 to 23 February 2014. The official opening starts at 6pm tomorrow.

About PACIFICA
P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A. is a national non-government organisation (NGO) for Pacific women living in Aotearoa New Zealand established in 1976 and has 16 branches throughout the country from Whangarei to Invercargill with 314 members.

ENDS

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