New Tupu Aotearoa service provider Kings Force Health Charitable Trust hopes to activate a ripple effect of positive change for Pacific people in the Hawke’s Bay through its involvement with the employment support programme.
Boosted by $ NZ8.85 million from the Provincial Growth Fund, Tupu Aotearoa has expanded into the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Manawatu-Whanganui, Hawke's Bay, Southland and Otago.
Accessed through service providers, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples aspires to reach Pacific young people living in the regions around New Zealand, while supporting them as they prepare to enter employment.
Formerly known as the Pacific Employment Support Service, more than 2200 people have accessed the programme since 2010 and nearly half were placed into work.
The rebranded Tupu Aotearoa has recruited new providers throughout the country to deliver pastoral care to help young people access learning and work opportunities, including Napier-based Kings Force.
A member of the Aere Tai Pacific Midland Collective serving the Pacific communities in Napier and the Hawkes Bay, Kings Force’s services include an Early Childhood Centre, adult education, before/after and school holiday programmes and Whanau Ora, says Manager Charles Faletutulu.
Charles adds Tupu Aotearoa is directly targeting the Pacific community to see them gain employment.
“As an organisation, we work with some very vulnerable families that are recent migrants and have been classified as ‘high needs’ for engagement in our services.
“We will be able to direct our aiga towards the Tupu Aotearoa initiative and journey with them into pathways for success.”
Not only will Kings Force contribute to the success of Tupu Aotearoa, but its involvement will allow Kings Force to support its community from another dimension.
“We can now push for employment outcomes which were once only a conversation with the families,” Charles says.
The organisation aims to enable its community to set standards for generations to come for higher employment and educational success.
Kings Force recently underwent training in Napier, under the guidance of Tupu Aotearoa Manager - Whanganui/Manawatū, Hawkes Bay, where it gained insight to the programme and its purpose.
“We were introduced to where it came from and where it aims to go at the training,” Charles says.
“After this, we are very excited to see what the future will bring for us in Tupu Aotearoa.”
Visit MPP for more information about Tupu Aotearoa.