Pacific Growth Services (PGS)
Established in September 2021, Pacific Growth Services is an economic services provider based in the Bay of Plenty which focusses on the empowerment of our Pacific communities through providing a platform and the right tools for Pacific businesses to thrive.
PGS is well grounded in community life in the Bay of Plenty with established links with the wider business community, education providers, and also territorial authorities. Such relationships PGS continues to foster going forward as an avenue to help our Pacific businesses realise their true potential. In all, we have adopted a holistic viewpoint that the success of our Pacific businesses hinges on us giving them the right tools and opportunities to achieve. In doing so, the outcome is a thriving Pacific community.
The Bay of Plenty remains New Zealand’s fastest growing region since the turn of the decade with a steady growth of 2.7% since 2013. Its growth has presented welcomed opportunities not just for the wider community but specifically for our Pacific businesses and professionals in the region.
Pacific peoples make up just under 4% of the region’s total population according to the last census in 2018. As such, our presence in the business community is also underrepresented with only 411 businesses and professionals in the region identifying as Pasifika. Needless to say, there is a great need to invest in the growth of our Pacific businesses to keep up with the growing population in the Bay of Plenty. To do this, there’s a need to leverage our position with territorial authorities, chamber of commerce, marketing platforms, tertiary education providers and the like. However, to date there has not been a legal entity or body that would be able to voice the needs of our business community and act as a mediator between pacific businesses and large government bodies, private organisations, and enterprises. Pacific Growth Services hopes to fulfil this role in service to our Pacific peoples.
PGS have been working with various Pacific businesses and professionals to seek out opportunities for growth, identify individual business needs and also areas which require capacity building. However, in order to fulfil the role of mediator and voice for the Pacific business community, there is significant time and resource investment required of Pacific Growth Services.
Our vision, mission and the plan moving forward
1. Strategic networking
· We engage with our Pacific business to identify their services
· We engage with the wider business community and territorial authorities to find opportunities for their business
· We support their capacity training needs through searching out training funding opportunities for them and their families.
2. Facilitate in finding accommodation for pacific families.
· In the current housing crisis - it is difficult for most pacific families to find accommodation in all forms. We have developed over the years long standing relationships both with private propery developers and rental companies. Through these relationships we have in the past been able to broker deals that safeguards the interests of not just the propery providers but more importantly our people.
· Support Pacific families to ensure when purchasing a property that all of their due diligence are complete and are compliant.
· Connect Pacific people to our Pacific Growth network that provides professional advice regarding home ownership.
3. Council Process Advice
· Our long-standing relationships with various councils has allowed us an in-depth understanding of internal processess. We are able to assist Pacific business navigate various council processess to avoid long lead times on decisions through connecting them with the right personnel.
4. Pasifka for Pasifika (P4P Initiative)
Together with Pacific businesses, we also have a list of pacific professionals, Our first line of engagement for the needs of our pacific businesses are our Pacific professionals and vice versa. This ensures that there is an element of collective empowerment among our community
Our people
Aifai Esera
The Director for Pacific Growth Services was born and raised in the village of Tuana’i in Samoa. He is also thoroughly acquainted with the Samoan culture and understands the context that comes with being a Pacific Islander raised in New Zealand. For the past 13 years, he has worked for the Tauranga City Council and has facilitated the formation of numerous business relationships that has seen the growth of many Pacific businesses in the Bay of Plenty. It also has allowed him to see the struggles faced by many Pacific businesses.
Our organizational priorities sets out how Pacific Growth Services is looking at addressing these challenges and what impact we hope to make in the wider business community in the Bay of Plenty region. What underpins our drive to help Pacific businesses is a passion that is best described by the Samoan proverb, “O le tele o Sulu, e maua ai figota” which in essence means “Together, we thrive.”
Our connected relationships
We connect with multiple organistions and networks such as local councils, government agencies, churches, the horticultural & construction industries and many health providers.
