Performance Information for Appropriations Vote Pacific Island Affairs
MINISTER(S) RESPONSIBLE FOR APPROPRIATIONS: Minister of Pacific Island Affairs (M50)
ADMINISTERING DEPARTMENT: Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR MINISTRY OF PACIFIC ISLAND AFFAIRS: Minister of Pacific Island Affairs
Part 1 - Summary of the Vote
Part 1.2 - High-Level Objectives of the Vote
Objectives of the Vote
The Government's plan is to improve Pacific New Zealanders' education, health and employment and to promote Pacific culture. This plan is directly linked to the three Government priorities which are:
- Lifting incomes and standards of living for Pacific people.
- Improving Outcomes in Auckland.
- Promoting Pacific Cultures and Languages.
We bring Pacific peoples' circumstances, needs and aspirations to Government, and Government's policies and programmes to Pacific people. We are in effect a bridge between Government and Pacific communities. All of our work is designed to enable and foster the vision of successful Pacific peoples
The Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs (MPIA) contributes to these priorities by establishing two outcomes and several areas for intervention. The outcomes are:
- Improved economic wellbeing and living standards for Pacific people in New Zealand, and
- Strengthened Pacific families and communities in New Zealand.
The Ministry contributes to these outcomes by intervening in the following ways:
Influencing Advice to Government
- Ministerial servicing.
- Assisting other agencies to be aware that policies developed for the 'average' New Zealander may have different impacts on Pacific communities, because these communities have different demographics and needs. We do this by:
- leading policy change through strategic projects that test and demonstrate the benefits of alternative approaches to policy and service delivery
- improving the knowledge base through sound research
- using existing knowledge and Ministry expertise to assist other agencies
- providing advice on Board appointments.
Relationship Building with Communities and Supporting Community Change
- Building relationships with Pacific communities. At the moment we do this through initiating strategic projects and innovative use of technology to assist communities to:
- be knowledgeable about government policies, processes and services of relevance to them
- have the evidence and knowledge to participate in civic and governmental decision making processes.
- Selecting and managing contracted service providers to provide innovative programmes which will enhance Pacific people's participation in New Zealand's economy.
