Committee chair Penina Ifopo presents the draft Pan-Pacific Strategy to a full house at Te Matariki Clendon Community Centre. Photo: Facebook / Centre for Pacific Language
Manurewa is set to adopt its first Pan-Pacific Strategy, marking a milestone for the South Auckland community where nearly 40 percent of residents identify as Pasifika.
The strategy will be formally presented to the Manurewa Local Board Thursday, driven by a tight funding deadline and push to include all Pacific voices.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's presentation, committee chair Penina Ifopo confirmed the strategy had received strong support.
"We asked three simple questions online: Do you support it, don't support it, and why? And the overwhelming response was support. No one said they didn't support it," she said.
The strategy was shared with the public on 30 April at Te Matariki Clendon Community Centre.
A packed room of Pacific elders, church leaders, educators, youth workers, and elected officials welcomed the milestone but raised concerns about the short timeframe and the inclusion of smaller Pacific nations.
"This is about making sure our Pacific community isn't left behind again," said Manurewa Local Board chair Matt Winiata.
"This strategy gives us a tool to unlock long-term funding and bring visibility to Pasifika in Manurewa. But we need to get it on paper now."
The 10-year strategy outlines six short-term priorities:
- Youth empowerment.
- Environment and climate resilience.
- Education, training and employment.
- Culture, language and identity.
- Community spaces.
- Community engagement and partnerships.
The committee developed the strategy through surveys, online submissions, and community talanoa.
Ifopo said the community built the strategy for themselves.
"We're not politicians, but we speak action," she said. "While we have the opportunity and the funding, let's move, otherwise this becomes just another document gathering dust."
Auckland Council facilitator Akerei Maresala-Thomson said the process connected data with tautua (service), to ensure the final strategy is both meaningful and financially empowering.
"We want to lock it down, so there's no excuses for our community to miss out again."
Throughout the evening, speakers urged the strategy to reflect the full Pacific spectrum - especially smaller nations.
"There's about 2400 of us Tokelauans in Aotearoa, even less in Manurewa. We make up less than 1 percent of the Pacific population here," said community leader Matt Enelio. "Our language is endangered. How can we make sure our people are represented in this plan?"
Fesaitu Solomone, chief executive of the Centre for Pacific Languages, echoed the importance of inclusive design and engagement - particularly for often-overlooked communities.
"We need to look for those communities, engage with them so they feel like they're part of Manurewa and the Pan-Pacific Strategy."
Although few young people attended the event, their contributions helped shape the plan.
"Youth was one of our key priorities," said Maresala-Thomson. "Not many turned up in person early on, but they engaged online. That feedback informed the February talanoa and helped shape the subcommittee that refined the strategy."
Youth representative D'Angelo Baice provided a voice on the committee.
With only one Pacific member currently on the Manurewa Local Board, Ifopo also called for greater community participation in local government.
"We're not doing well in civic participation," she said. "We're not voting. It doesn't speak the language of our young people. But we must engage so that we can have the voice."
Community members are encouraged to share final feedback by 7 May via email or directly with committee representatives.
The strategy will be submitted for endorsement on Thursday afternoon.
"We need you, we need your thoughts," Ifopo said. "We're inviting the whole village to come along. This is our work together."
While some called for more time, many agreed the opportunity was too important to miss.
"We've waited long enough," said one elder. "Let's not miss the boat."
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
