Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund

To be eligible, businesses must have:

• Aligned with MPP’s Lalanga Fou Goal: Prosperous Pacific Communities
• Been a Pacific business located in regional New Zealand outside of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
• Been a Pacific Business operating in commercially in New Zealand and are GST registered
• Been a limited liability and partnership business with a minimum of 50% Pacific ownership or
• Been a sole trader with full Pacific ownership.
• Had a turnover of $70,000 per financial year.
• Been trading for at least 12 months.
• Provided an up-to-date business plan.
• Provided 12 months audited financial statements.
• Demonstrated capacity and capability to create employment opportunities for Pacific peoples.
• Demonstrated commitment to improving Pacific participation in the labour market.
• Demonstrated that funding will increase productivity and job creation within 3-6 months of receiving the funds.
• Demonstrated funding will build capacity and capability to participate in economic development projects in the regions.
• Demonstrated that funding to purchase equipment will lead to creation of jobs for Pacific peoples.
• Demonstrated good health and safety practices.

*Pacific ownership is defined by people of Pacific descent.

Check out frequently asked questions for the Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund

The Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund was available for Pacific business project or initiative that: 

• Aligned with MPP’s Lalanga Fou Goal: Prosperous Pacific Communities
• Increased productivity and jobs creation.
• Improved Pacific peoples’ participation in the labour market.
• Increased participation of Pacific businesses in economic development projects in the regions.
• Supported the scaling up of Pacific businesses to transition and diversify and create jobs.
• Strengthened more successful and sustainable Pacific-owned businesses.
• Strengthened the resilience of Pacific businesses to the economic impacts of COVID-19.
• Could commit to co-contributing 20% of the requested funding.

Applicants could apply for up to $100,000 and were required to contribute a minimum of 20% of the requested amount.

Check out frequently asked questions for the Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund

The Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund was not available for:

• A business idea or a feasibility study.  
• A financial subsidy for salaries and wages.  
• Travel, accommodation, or fact-finding tours.  
• Social housing (however, 3rd party construction and infrastructure contractors providing labour and equipment to the build may have been eligible).  
• Infrastructure: roads, bridges, power stations, water storage or supply (however, 3rd party construction and infrastructure contractors providing labour and equipment to the build may have been eligible).  
• New mineral or other exploration (but could have expanded or pivoted an existing exploration business)  
• Renovation or remediation of commercial buildings where the focus was not productive expansion and jobs.  
• Programmes and activities delivered overseas including the NZ realm countries.
• Wages, salaries, infrastructure and fixed assets.
• Academic research and other academic activities.
• Debt repayment or debt servicing. 

Check out frequently asked questions for the Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund

If you need more information about the Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund, email [email protected]

Check out frequently asked questions for the Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund

Recipients for Round 1 of the Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund which closed on 25 March 2022 are as follows: