New internships are being offered to get Pacific people in New Zealand into the business technology sector.
Photo: AFP
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As part of Tech week, the Ministry of Innovation Business and Employment has launched a new internship programme called the Tupu Tek Pasifika Internships.
Senior Advisor for Pasifika at Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Tele'a Andrews said it would offer a customised programme to encourage Pacific learners to take up paid work experience in the sector.
He said often business technology and economic development were an overlooked career choice among Pacific people.
"It's a no brainer. We have to be ahead of the curve in terms of preparing for the future. And I really think that technology is obviously going to be one of the drivers of what economic development looks like in the future for a small country like New Zealand. And Pacific people need to know how to partake in that or be supported in a way as that leverage our strengths and ask what are the opportunities here that we have to offer in this space. For me it is exciting."
Mr Andrews said many Pacific people were creative and the potential to develop this skill set within a digital native space was needed.