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Tenders are now open for the Pacific Early Learning Mobile Outreach Service says Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata.

“The Ministries of Pacific Island Affairs and Education have worked together to establish a Pacific Mobile Early Childhood Education (ECE) service which will promote the value of ECE to Pacific parents in targeted areas and at community events,” says Ms Parata.

A new initiative aimed at raising achievement among Pasifika students has been launched by the Government today in Auckland.

The Pasifika Education Plan 2013-2017, which has been developed by the Education and Pacific Island Affairs Ministries sets out how ministries can work together with other agencies, schools and communities to help raise achievement among Pasifika students.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata says the Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards continues to consistently reveal the high calibre of Pacific Island youth.

“I am proud of New Zealand’s Pacific youth and proud that this initiative by the Prime Minister continues to focus on highlighting their talents and achievements.

Over 100 applications were received, reflecting the large number of talented and ambitious young Pacific people. We have chosen five high-achieving young Pacific winners recognising outstanding achievement among young leaders.

Pacific Island Minister Hekia Parata expresses her condolences at the sudden loss of Pacific media leader Tom Etuata, Chief Executive of the Pacific Media Network.

"My thoughts and condolences to the Niuean community, the wider Pacific Island community and in particular, the Etuata family. He will be missed dearly by the strong Pacific media and creative industries in Aotearoa,” says Ms Parata.

Tom Etuata was husband to Viola and father of Summer. His parents are Rev Tom and Akeletama Etuata, great community leaders in Wellington.

Taloha Ni. Pacific Island Minister Hekia Parata welcomes the inaugural Tokelau Language Week which starts this week, Monday 29 October to Sunday 4 November.

"The theme Ke mau ki pale o Tokelau: hold fast to your treasures of Tokelau" emphasises the importance of te gagana Tokelau (Tokelau language) as a taonga cherished by the New Zealand Tokelau community," says Ms Parata.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, welcomes the first Niuean language week which goes from 6-13 October.

“The theme for Niue Language Week is ‘fakamau, fakamanatu mo e fakaaoga tumau e vagahau Niue - maintain, retain and develop the Niue language,” says Ms Parata.  

“Although the home island population may be small, Niueans in New Zealand are our fourth-largest Pacific group, contributing to our diverse Pacific population.”

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata is delighted by the number of applications for the 2012 Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards and says it confirms a wealth of talent among this population.

“Applications for these awards closed at the end of August and I’m delighted that young Pacific people continue to strive high in their aspirations and goals,” says Ms Parata.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata today announced three key appointments to the Pacific Business Trust Board.

Ms Caren Rangi, of Cook Islands descent, has been appointed Chair of the Pacific Business Trust Board replacing Hamish Crooks.

“Caren’s knowledge of the Pacific business development environment and of the Trust provides stability and focus to the Board,” says Ms Parata.

Ms Rangi has over twenty years’ experience in governance, public sector auditing and strategic organisational management.

Malo e Lelei

Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, says celebrating New Zealand’s diverse cultures and speaking their languages benefits all of us as Tongan Language Week, Uike Katoanga’i 'o e Lea Faka-Tonga, begins tomorrow.

"The theme for the week is Fakakoloa 'o Aotearoa - Enriching Aotearoa with Tongan language and culture,” says Ms Parata.

Applications for the 2012 Prime Minister’s Pacific Youth Awards open today giving young Pacific people the opportunity to have their talent and leadership potential recognised.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, says the programme, now in its third year, is a great opportunity for Pacific communities to encourage their future leaders to achieve their dreams.

“There is a huge amount of talent and potential among New Zealand’s young people and this is a great opportunity to celebrate that,’’ Ms Parata says.

Talofa Lava

Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata encourages all to participate in the Samoan language week celebrations beginning Sunday 27 May.

“The theme this year, O le vāfealoa’i: strong and respectful relationships, is a fitting theme for this years’ Samoan language week, as Samoa also celebrates 50 years of independence and the signing of a Treaty of Friendship with New Zealand,” says Ms Parata.

Pacific Islands Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, welcomes the report of the Pacific Adolescent Career Pathways Report recently released.

“Matching subject choices at secondary school to your career hopes and dreams is critical for Pacific students,” says Ms Parata.

The research by the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs in 2010 found a significant mismatch between what students hoped to do, and the subjects they chose.

Pacific Island Minister, Hekia Parata, congratulates the students mentored under the Pacific Employment Services Scheme [PESS] who have achieved higher than usual NCEA pass rates.

Under the PESS, established in January 2011, the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs contracts providers to help build skills, educational achievement and employment outcomes among young Pacific people.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, will this weekend encourage Pacific communities across the country to celebrate their diverse cultures and be proud of what they offer.

Tomorrow Ms Parata is attending Creekfest in Porirua and then heading to Auckland for the 20th anniversary of the Pasifika Festival.

“Pacific cultures are an increasingly important part of how we express our national identity and it is exciting to see the popularity of Pacific festivals grow from strength to strength each year,'' says Ms Parata.

Education and Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, encourages parents everywhere to take time out to have fun with their kids on Children’s Day this Sunday 4 March.

“Children’s Day is important because it’s the day we stop to reflect on what our children mean to us, and what we can do for them, everyday,'' says Ms Parata.

The nationwide event has been celebrated for 11 years with events around the country. This year's theme is ‘treasure our children'.

The Government is providing $6 million to support Pacific peoples enter into trades training in 2012 and 2013 to assist with the Christchurch rebuild, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce and Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Hekia Parata announced today.

The initiative, part of the Government’s wider Skills for Canterbury contingency package of $42 million, is providing up to 300 fees-free places in trades training throughout New Zealand.

Pacific Island Affairs Minister, Hekia Parata, told a group of Pasifika leaders at a breakfast in Wellington this morning not to be afraid to put their names forward for senior management roles.

The group of 27 is the second intake for the Pasifika Leadership Course, set up by the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs in conjunction with the Leadership Development Centre last year to help increase Pacific public servants in senior roles in the state sector.

Pacific communities in Wellington have a lot to be proud of including this weekend’s annual Pasifika Festival, says the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Hekia Parata.

"In the five years since it was inaugurated Wellington’s Pasifika Festival has gone from strength to strength,’’ says Ms Parata.

"This year’s event showcases seven Pacific cultures - Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Tokelau, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tuvalu - offering crafts, food and drink and performance.