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Pacific Business Village

Pacific Business Village

The Pacific Business Village initiative was launched in Tauranga by the Minister for Pacific Peoples, Aupito William Sio on 29 April 2022.

The initiative has been established to support sustained growth in the Pacific business sector and to provide a strategic framework for long-term economic development for Pacific businesses nationwide.

The Ministry will work with Pacific business communities to provide greater accessibility to business support services, support Pacific business communities to operate sustainably and support their recovery from COVID-19.

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Central to the operation of the Village and creating a Pacific circular economy, are the following funding components: 

  1. Pacific Business Network (Networks) - The Networks will hold responsibility for identifying, coordinating and connecting with Pacific businesses within their respective regions. Networks will partner Pacific businesses with local Pacific Business Providers to support their development and capability.
  2. Pacific Business Providers (Providers) - Providers, including Pacific Business Trust (PBT), will work with Pacific businesses to build their capability and expertise. Services will be localised where possible and will be tailored to meet the needs of Pacific businesses.
  3. Pacific Businesses - Direct investment will go to Pacific Businesses to develop practical business nous and be supported to accelerate their growth, capability, and capacity. Ease of access to culturally appropriate support services will enable Pacific businesses to develop their resilience and operate sustainably in the long-term.

Questions and enquiries about the Pacific Business Village can be directed to [email protected].

Expansion of the Pacific Business Village

On 18 November 2022, the Ministry hosted an event in Mangere, to announce round three of the Pacific Aotearoa Community Outreach (PACO) Fund to support Social Enterprise and to launch the expansion of the Pacific Business Village to Auckland.

The Ministry has secured $15.5 million in Budget 2022 to meet community demand volumes for services to support Pacific businesses and Pacific social enterprises across Aotearoa.

“The Village has been well received by Pacific businesses and we recognise the need to expand the Village to supporting the large number of Pacific businesses operating in Auckland", said Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio.

The event brought together over 100 Auckland Pacific business leaders, communities, social enterprises, and government agencies to launch the following funding initiatives under the Pacific Business Village umbrella:

  • Network Provider RFP round two* - for Pacific Business Networks in Auckland and other regions (excluding regions already covered under the current Pacific Business Village) to identify, coordinate, and provide pastoral care to Pacific businesses.
  • Service Provider RFP round two* - for Pacific Service Providers to deliver capability and capacity training to Pacific businesses to scale and grow.
  • Tauola Business Fund round two - to support Pacific Businesses into sustained growth. More information on this fund is detailed below.  

    *View these RFPs on GETS

Providers and Networks

As part of the Pacific Business Village, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples funds the following providers and networks to provide support to Pacific businesses:

Tauola Business Fund

A key priority of the Pacific Business Village is the Tauola Business Fund, providing direct investment into businesses to accelerate their long-term growth, and assist with the economic recovery from the impact of COVID-19.

The Fund provides up to $100,000 grants to support existing small and medium sized businesses nationwide, to create immediate employment, stimulate growth, increase productivity, and ensure Pacific businesses thrive in response to the impacts of COVID-19. A second round of the Fund launched on 18 November, 2022.