Pacific Island trust expands network

The Auckland-based Pacific Business Trust and Business Porirua are joining forces to foster successful Pacific Island businesses in the Wellington region.

The partners will seal their alliance by opening a new Pacific Business Trust office in Porirua on Monday.

The Wellington office aims to reach a significant part of New Zealand's Pacific Island population - Pacific Islanders make up 23 per cent of Porirua City's population and 8 per cent of Wellington's regional population.

"Pacific people have much to contribute to the New Zealand economy and this new initiative will assist the development of sustainable Pacific businesses in the Wellington area," said Pauline Winter, chair of the Pacific Business Trust.

The trust - which is funded by the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs - offers business funding, support and advice, arts awards, scholarships and research funding.

Its business development strategies have attracted the attention of other potential partners, including Westpac Bank, the sponsor of the new office launch.

Westpac's chief economist, Adrian Orr, said the bank was giving its support because it wanted to see opportunities grow for Pacific Islanders.

"People of Pacific descent are a rich part of the fabric of New Zealand and Wellington and contribute strongly to the business and cultural environment," said Orr, who was also the Pacific Business Trust's 2001 Businessperson of the Year.

Porirua is a strategic location for the trust to set up an office. A young city, nearly half of its population is younger than 29. Only 20 per cent of this young population is employed, increasing the need for better education to give the unemployed the skills they need to find jobs.

"Our partnership with Pacific Business Trust will be the catalyst for unlocking the business potential of the local Pacific Island community," said Chris Gollins, chairman of Business Porirua.

Pacific Business Trust chief executive Jim Mather said working with Business Porirua would help the trust broaden its community base while working at a local level.

"The opening of our Wellington region office signals our clear intention to deliver our services to Pacific communities throughout the country and not just Auckland," said Mather. "We want to connect with businesses in Porirua and the greater Wellington region, as well as assisting in the creation of new businesses," he said.

Business Porirua said nearly 12 per cent of its Biz Info clients were Pacific Islanders and agreed that it needed to reach more.

"Partnering with the trust will mean full-time dedicated assistance to these businesses," said Mandy Natusch, executive director of Business Porirua. "We are keen to tap into the potential talent in the Pacific market to lift economic development in the region."

The Pacific Business Trust's Wellington regional office will be headed by business adviser Fitu Ah Young, who is of Samoan descent.

Ah Young has 11 years' experience in his own business, working closely with community and Government agencies during that time.

The trust also plans to open a Christchurch office in July.