Minister meets Pacific Island community

Christchurch's Pacific Island community is gathering tonight to meet Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu.

Christchurch has an active Pacific Island community. Of the 18,615 Pacific people in the South Island, over 62% live in Canterbury, 18% in Otago, 8% in Southland and 9.6% in the combined Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough regions.

About half of the total Pacific people in the South Island belong to the Samoan ethnicity followed by Cook Islands 20%, Tongans 13% Niueans 5%, Fijians 5% and Tokelauans 2%.

According to the 2006 Census, the number of Pacific people living in the South Island rose 33% to 18,615 from 2001 to 2006. Pacific people moving from urban centres such as Auckland in search of a slower pace of life and the more relaxed South Island lifestyle is a key reason for this increase.

The proportion of Pacific people in Christchurch under 15 years of age is high at 37%, reflecting the national figure.

‘The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs' Christchurch team has identified youth as a major priority for the next couple of years,' Mrs te Heuheu said.

‘The team is developing a proposal for a Pacific youth leadership pilot project to create a greater pool of leadership talent - both for young Pacific people and for the future.'

Mrs te Heuheu said education is a big focus for the Government and recalls that education, jobs and a better life drew many Pacific families to New Zealand in the 1950s and the 1960s.

‘In the 21st century it is critical that we focus on the education and training of a growing, youthful Pacific community.

‘We must ensure that every child can read, write and do maths. We need to inspire our children to achieve. Teaching them the basics is the first step.'