Pasifika people make a positive contribution to New Zealand society and have potential to do more, says Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio. The minister was in Palmerston North on Friday to meet agencies working with Pasifika youth, and explore how communities and central government could work better together to advance Pasifika aspirations. In Palmerston North, city council Pasifika liaison co-ordinator Rhia Taonui said the number of Pacific people was about 3800, or 4.7 per cent of the population. Sio said this year's "Wellbeing Budget" provided a range of financial support to improve Pacific people's health and education, with some $130 million to be spent over four years. The scheme would benefit from a further $14.5m from the Provisional Growth Fund to extend Tupu Aotearoa to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Source: Stuff August 02, 2019 04:52 UTC