Industry LEO

Diversity within Pacific Aotearoa brings rich voice, talent and opportunity.

Overview

Workforce Plan

"The ocean connects us all rather than separates us."

EPELI HAU'OFA

Pacific people working in C&I in 2023

Pacific learners 2023 (7.9% of C&I learners)

Pacific enterprises 2023

The LEO We Heard from Pacific in the Industry

Pacific peoples are an essential part of New Zealand’s construction and infrastructure workforce. Supporting their success is key to building a thriving industry.

Pacific peoples’ talent will help meet construction and infrastructure demands while cultivating an environment where the Pacific workforce and enterprises are valued, respected and thriving.

Industry LEO (voice) combines perspectives from Pacific people across the Construction and Infrastructure sectors through respectful talanoa-style interviews.

Established in July 2023, the aim of the Pacific Peoples Strategic Reference Group – Industry LEO is to provide strategic direction to transform the Vocational Education System for improved workforce outcomes for Pacific Peoples.

The Bigger Picture

The Pacific Peoples’ Workforce Development Plan is aligned with the Government’s All-of-Government Pacific Wellbeing Strategy, guided by Lalanga Fou’s four goals — a vision shaped by Pacific communities to improve wellbeing outcomes now and into the future. The plan reflects this vision by ensuring Pacific peoples in construction and infrastructure have the skills, training, and opportunities they need to succeed.

Pacific Peoples Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Plan

The recommendations in the Pacific Peoples Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Plan support the needs and aspirations of Pacific people, sector leaders, and communities in Aotearoa New Zealand, recognising our young, growing population’s rich potential, ready to be unleashed. Focused on four priority areas, the Plan aims to ensure that Pacific people in the sector thrive now and in the future.

01
1.1 Develop, promote and collaborate on Pacific success stories that support improved visibility and perceptions of the C&I sector.

1.2 Targeted promotion of the industry leo insights to garner understanding and support from the C&I sector.

1.3 Promote key collateral that educates the sector on Pacific culture, values, and principles, and their manifestation in workplace settings.

1.4 Collaborate with subject experts to promote and implement cultural capability strategies and initiatives within C&I organisations.
02
2.1 Ensure assessors, assessment practices, and pastoral care models are flexible to the needs of Pacific learners.

2.2 Increase funding for the delivery of key micro-credentials and on-job training programmes.

2.3 Target attraction campaigns to diversify the Pacific workforce, focusing initially on young students, career changers, and adult learners.

2.4 Ensure training and qualifications meet the needs of Pacific people, informed by culturally appropriate evidence.
03
3.1 Support the enhancement and scaling up of existing tendering and social procurement initiatives for Pacific businesses.

3.2 Support Pacific businesses in ensuring they have access to a robust Pacific C&I business directory.

3.3 Ensure Pacific businesses have access to a platform that provides timely business and support information.

3.4 Promote and enhance initiatives that support and guide aspiring Pacific sole traders towards business ownership.
04
4.1 Ensure there are opportunities for increased representation and visibility of Pacific C&I voices across the vocational education and training system (VET).

4.2 Ensure the Pacific industry leo influences key apprenticeship policies and initiatives.

4.3 Elevate, align and embed industry leo within key procurement policy decisions, as well as wider Government and C&I sector policies and initiatives.

4.4 Support the identification, funding and acceleration of community led initiatives that support the delivery of a skilled Pacific workforce.

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Download the plan

Goals Within the All-of-Government Pacific Wellbeing Strategy

These levers for change align with Industry LEO.

Infographic showing Goal 1 Thriving Pacific Languages, Cultures and Identities

Source: All-of-Government Pacific Wellbeing Strategy, Ministry for Pacific Peoples

Talanoa: How can we work together in the VET system to ensure Pacific success?

By working together, we can translate these shared aspirations and LEO into real, lasting change.

The image below illustrates Pacific Peoples’ journey through construction and infrastructure. It shows where and how you can provide support for their success.

Infographic illustrating the Pacific Peoples' journey through construction and infrastructure.

Watch inspiring stories about Pacific peoples and their journeys, and learn why culture is important.

Unleashing Pacific Talent: Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Plan