MBIE Chief Adviser Pasifika, Matalena Leaupepe Photo: RNZI / Koro Vaka'uta
An internship programme has been launched in New Zealand to get more Pasifika people working in the public sector.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE), is supported by six government agencies including the Ministry for the Environment, the State Services Commission, the NZ Qualifications Authority and the University of Auckland.
Pacific graduates are provided summer internships where they receive exposure to public sector work, policy writing and networking opportunities.
MBIE's Chief Advisor Pasifika Matalena Leaupepe said the initiative was part of a move to get more Pasifika working in the public sector.
Ms Leaupepe said this was important because the role of the public sector was to serve the people of New Zealand.
"The people of New Zealand are actually becoming extremely diverse, one of which Pacific is a dominant feature. So as part of that diversity agenda we are wanting in the Pacific space to really up our game in terms of employing, in terms of upskilling our people and bringing, especially the young people into the sector," she said.