For many Pacific people and families, moving to New Zealand is a chance for new beginnings and creating a better future for the generations to come. However, finding financial security in this new homeland is something many families struggle with.
Balancing cultural and spiritual expectations with often limited financial understanding and mounting financial responsibilities means that for many the dream of owning a house appears out of reach.
Late last year, Pacific families in Tamaki came to the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs expressing their desire for home ownership. Saving for a home is a challenge for many families and the Ministry saw an opportunity. Recognising that good money management was fundamental to achieving home ownership the Ministry enlisted the help of other government agencies, community organisations, local residents and churches from Tamaki, the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ), the Retirement Commission, CareerWorks, Auckland Council, the City of Manukau Education Trust and the Tamaki Transformation Programme. The result is a Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs-led financial literacy programme.
While the focus of the programme is working towards home ownership, it is also about changing behaviours around managing money.
“Before I came to the workshops, I had no idea about money, now I understand more how to use it,” explains Kilisitina, a participant in the pilot programme, who immigrated to New Zealand from Tonga in the mid-1990s.
Kilisitina and her husband, Moeaki, are one of 10 Tongan families from the Tamaki area who are taking part in the current programme, designed for the Tongan community. Their goal is to save enough to own their own home and to create a financially stable future for their children.
The programme includes fourteen workshop sessions spread over four and a half months. The sessions cover managing money, debt elimination, budgeting and goal setting. Participants then enter the Welcome Home First Steps, a home ownership education course outlining what people need to know about buying their first home.
Each family is also given a support coach who is available to meet with them in their own homes and work with their individual needs.
Leigh Somerville, BNZ Transactional Solutions Specialist, saw the opportunity of becoming a coach as a chance to give back to the community.
“As a volunteer coach, supporting this programme is a great way for me to contribute and give back to the Pacific community. More importantly we are empowering and inspiring our families as they create meaningful connections between financial opportunity and responsibility. It is also about bridging the knowledge gap between the generations; those who immigrated and those who are New Zealand-born,” says Leigh.
“Education is key, along with provision for additional support for these immigrant communities, as New Zealand is seen as a place that offers better opportunities for themselves and their families. Unfortunately quite often those who arrive to make the most of these opportunities are then not sure how to manage (and protect) their money, and in turn can be quite overwhelmed about the responsibilities that come with it” says Leigh.
Leigh is currently helping Kilisitina and Moeaki manage their household budget so that they can save towards their goal of owning their own home.
“I’ve learnt a lot from the workshops,” says Kilisitina. “But Leigh is very good extra support. She is helping us with what to do and what not to do with our money.”
The Ministry hopes to roll out future programmes focused on specific Pacific communities in the Tamaki area and eventually across New Zealand. For more information contact Mariota Smutz at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs – mariota.smutz@mpia.govt.nz
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