Speech for MSD Pacific Fono

Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Kia orana, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Ni sa bula vinaka, Namaste, Ia Orana, (Goo day true ol geta) Gud de tru olgeta, Talofa ni, Talofa, Kia ora tatou and warm Pacific greetings to you all.

I would like to thank Patricia Read for her kind introduction.  I would also like to acknowledge Reverend Sylvia Akauola Tongotongo.

My colleague Luamanuvao Winnie Laban, Pacific Island Affairs Minister and Associate Social Development and Employment Minister was unable to attend today and asked that I pass on her best wishes, support and encouragement.  She attended the Wellington fono in May and sees these fono as an important opportunity for MSD Pacific staff to come together and gain an increased understanding of the opportunities available to realise your potential.

She also said that she addressed your fono two years ago and had suggested that you set targets and a plan of actions with timeframes and enquired where is it.  Having a Pacific woman deputy chief executive such as Patricia Read can also look at possible barriers in the workplace that hinder your potential to upskill and lead.  Luamanuvao is looking forward to seeing the outcomes and actions from this fono as when Pacific people benefit, MSD benefits, and New Zealand benefits. 

It is an honour for me to be here at this very important occasion – the sixth Ministry of Social Development (MSD) National Fono.  I understand that for the first time since the merger, we also have staff from Child, Youth and Family here and I would like to bid you all a very warm welcome.  

This is a fantastic opportunity to have two days celebrating Pacific culture, while opening your eyes and your minds to potential career opportunities.

Sometimes people forget that New Zealand is a Pacific nation, which is something my colleague Luamanuvao regularly reminds people! 

Our Pacific people like our Maori people are also great navigators – the culture of organisation is built on these values. 

It is also easy to forget that education is an exciting lifelong process.  These two days are part of this process – educating you about our vibrant and rich Pacific cultures, about the path of leadership, and about the career opportunities available to you.

The theme for this year's fono is career pathways and development. 

By the end of these two days, you will have a greater understanding of the career opportunities available within MSD and where it would be great to see more Pacific staff – like in senior management, middle management and policy roles.  You will know what it takes to move from doing a good job in your current role, to doing a great job, and a job where you can influence.  And you will have a better understanding of the career pathways available in Policy, Social Work, Management, Legal, HR and IT and where this can take you.

When looking at Pacific staff numbers at MSD from the end of January this year figures show that 12 per cent of your staff are Pacific.  Twenty per cent of staff employed in Work and Income Contact Centres are Pacific, 13 per cent in the regional offices, 12 per cent in specialist services and 11 per cent in Child, Youth and Family. 

Pacific staff are represented in national office (9 per cent), Family and Community Services (8 per cent), Corporate (7 per cent), Finance (6 per cent), Human Resources and Information Technology (5 per cent). 

Only 2 per cent of MSD Policy staff are Pacific and this is something that this fono will look at.  The leadership and management development of our Pacific staff is extremely important, as you have an important role in communicating and supporting all MSD clients and particularly those from our Pacific communities. 

Increased representation of Pacific peoples in leadership positions, in both private and public decision making bodies, is a goal of the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs Pacific Economic Action Plan and Pacific Women's Economic Development Plan.  These plans focus on areas of development for moving our Pacific people into higher income and higher skilled jobs.  

The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs whole of government approach, working with both the private sector and community groups, is ensuring that our Pacific communities have the skills and support needed to succeed, both now and in the future. 

Attracting Pacific peoples to roles in the public sector where they are currently under-represented, encouraging an increase in the number of Pacific peoples undertaking tertiary study and a mentoring project is part of the implementation of these plans. 

And this is happening at this fono.

We want to see our Pacific people well represented in the top government positions, because from there, you provide a positive role model for our Pacific communities, but also ensure that the best Pacific outcomes are being realised and the agency develops a creative partnership with communities.

This fono is designed to help you step up into your own potential as a leader.  It is to help you be successful.  

Success is belief in your ability to perform to your highest potential, and taking action to do exactly that.

Success is a Pacific legacy.  Good governance, transparency and accountability are critical to building credibility, integrity and accountability.

Many Pacific Islanders, including your parents and grandparents, left their homes, families and country to come to New Zealand and provide their children with education and opportunity.

Your parents and grandparents have been successful in this mission, because you have grabbed that education and you have grabbed that opportunity.

You have a great job – but there are still further opportunities available to you.

You now have the opportunity to be the leaders for the next generation.

Are you going to focus on educating and encouraging the young people you know into a career path?  I’m sure many of you didn’t even know what a policy analyst was when you were at school.  Now you do, and now you can tell your kids and your friends’ kids all about it – including what it pays!

Or maybe the next step for you is to move forward in your own career – perhaps you’re the one who wants to work in policy, or a senior management role – and I would encourage you to seize this opportunity.

Two programmes within MSD are designed to show you the way forward, and up.  Te Aratiatia helps those of you who are high-performing non-managers get into management roles. If you’re already a manager and are showing high potential, then Te Aka Matua will help move you into positions with more influence.

Every Pacific person who fulfils their potential is lighting the way for our Pacific communities.  When you step up and become a leader – whether in a small way or a big way - you open the doors of possibility for those following you.

It is easy to forget the impact you have on your community, and even on your clients. There might be a person who walks away after a meeting with you thinking, “Hey, that person made me feel good. Maybe that’s something I could do for other people.”

Our young Pacific people will look to your career paths and your achievements, to find a path they can emulate.  You have the ability to show our young people there are no limits – that they too can be leaders.

Your presence at MSD is vital for Pacific people's social and economic prosperity in New Zealand.  I encourage you all to make your presence known in your organisation – you are all part of ensuring that Pasifika is at the forefront of the agenda.

To serve our people is a great honour and I want you to remember this quote.

Oh lay ala e lay boolay oh lay dow too ah (dow like owl)

‘O le ala i le pule o le tautua’.

The direct translation is ‘A way to success is to serve.’ And what it means is that ‘Serving others will lead in the right path to success.’

When you believe in yourself, and step up to fulfil your highest potential, you are providing the greatest service possible to your family, your community, and your country.  Over the next two days, you will be given every opportunity to find the right path of service for you.

Never underestimate the importance of your roles in our communities.  I wish you all the very best for the future.

Thank you.