Portfolio: Pacific Island Affairs

Minister welcomes Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa – Samoan Language Week

Beehive — Fri, 25 May 2012 04:07:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Pacific Island Affairs

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. ...

Career and subject choices critical

Admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:45:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Pacific Island Affairs

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. ...

Minister welcomes NCEA results from Pacific mentoring programme

Beehive — Tue, 22 May 2012 05:21:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Pacific Island Affairs

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. ...

Celebrating Pacific cultures

Admin — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:52:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Pacific Island Affairs

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. ...

Treasure your children this Children’s Day

Beehive — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 02:21:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Education

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'. ...

Govt funds Pacific trades initiative for Christchurch

Beehive — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 22:26:00 +0000

Steven Joyce | Pacific Island Affairs

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. ...

Minister addresses Pacific Leadership Group

Admin — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:47:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Pacific Island Affairs

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. ...

Wellington showcases Pacific cultures

Admin — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 00:44:00 +0000

Hekia Parata | Pacific Island Affairs

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. ...