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Waitakere Pacific Islands
Waitakere’s population, to the west of Auckland, includes 11%
from Niue, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. Though
Pacific people have diverse cultural and traditional values, they have
common issues that require collective solutions.
The Pacific Island Advisory Board of Waitakere City (PIAB) is an incorporated
society that provides a representative voice to the Waitakere City Council
(WCC) and other agencies on all matters and issues affecting the Pacific peoples.
Empowerment
PIAB’s strategic work programme says, “this is a unique
and dynamic relationship calling for the empowerment of
the Pacific Islands Community to initiate solutions” to problems
such as unemployment, education, health, environment and housing.
The council seeks: “to work together with the PIAB in implementing and
facilitating practical solutions at the local level or lobby for resources
from regional, central government and international agencies.”
PIAB’s vision includes: “that the Pacific Islands peoples in Waitakere
City are empowered to fully participate in the decision-making processes at
local government level.”
Pacific Islands Advisory Board of Waitakere objectives
The Pacific Islands Advisory Board of Waitakere objectives, as its constitution shows, are holistic and include:
- advising the council to ensure that support is given to each Pacific Island ethnic group
- enabling the council to recognise Pacific Island ethnic groups’ adjustments and contributions
- maintaining good relationships between Pasifika people and communities and the council
- initiating and supporting social and economic development advancement programmes
- initiating and supporting the well-being of persons of Pacific Island ethnic descent and their families
- reinforcing existing family support mechanisms
- providing a platform where each Pacific Island ethnic group may plan and work with other groups to promote social, cultural and economic well-being
- providing, where practical, support, encouragement, protection, assistance and representation
- advising government departments, statutory and voluntary agencies
- encouraging recognition among non-Pacific Island groups in Waitakere City of Pacific Island peoples’ social, cultural and economic adjustments and contribution
- encouraging each Pacific Island ethnic group to value and use its particular culture
- securing information and assisting with business development, employment, immigration, education, housing, social welfare, health, legal and other areas of concern
- making translators available
- distributing information and resources
- encouraging the organisation and management of sports, social and other activities
- soliciting and raising funds to implement objectives.
