Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund

The Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund opens on 16 July, 2021.

Applications close at 5pm on 20 August, 2021.

Applicants are informed of the outcome by the end of September, 2021.

Our online funding workshops are 1 hour and will cover the purpose of the Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund and the eligibility criteria. Funding workshops are optional, but we encourage you to attend a workshop before submitting your application.

Workshops will be available in person in some locations and online via Zoom.

Register for a workshop now

To be eligible, businesses must:

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

*Pacific ownership is defined by people of Pacific descent.

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

• Aligns with MPP’s Lalanga Fou Goal: Prosperous Pacific Communities
• Increases productivity and jobs creation.
• Improves Pacific peoples’ participation in the labour market.
• Increase participation of Pacific businesses in economic development projects in the regions.
• Support the scaling up of Pacific businesses to transition and diversify and create jobs.
• Strengthens more successful and sustainable Pacific-owned businesses.
• Strengthens the resilience of Pacific businesses to the economic impacts of COVID-19.
• Can commit to co-contributing 20% of the requested funding

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

The Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund is 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 be 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 be eligible).  
• New mineral or other exploration (but could expand or pivot an existing exploration business)  
• Renovation or remediation of commercial buildings where the focus is not productive expansion and jobs.  
• Programmes and activities delivered overseas including the NZ realm countries.
• Wages, salaries, infrastructure, fixed assets and capital expenditure.
• Academic research and other academic activities.
• Debt repayment or debt servicing. 

The Pacific Aotearoa Regional Enterprise Fund closes at 5pm on 20 August.

All applicants will hear about the outcome of their application by the end of September 2021. 

Apply online here

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