Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs

South Island regions

Information on Pacific peoples and communities in the South Island of New Zealand.

Nelson/Tasman

The Nelson Community Trust recently celebrated the signing of an MOU between the Primary Health Organisation and the Pacific Community and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.

The Community Trust is very proactive in the region and has accomplished numerous milestones including the formation of the Pacific Reference Group for the District Health Board.

Blenheim/Marlborough

The Pacific community in the Marlborough region is preparing to sign an MOU with the local Primary Health Organisation. This follows the recent appointment of a Pacific Development Manager.

Pacific communities in the region are supported by two Pacific trusts: the Marlborough Pacific Community Trust and the Marlborough Tagata Pasifika Trust.

Timaru/South Canterbury

Timaru is home to the Pacific community’s Fale Pasifika o Aoraki group. The group is responsible for bringing the community together and running various events such as fono to address the problem of family violence.

The group is housed in Timaru’s Community House.

Dunedin/Otago

The total number of Pacific people in the Otago region is a little over 3,000 (2006 census). Most of them live in Dunedin.

The Pacific community is well served by the Pacific Trust Otago which delivers services mainly in health but also in social welfare.

Invercargill/Southland

The Pacific community in Invercargill has long been served by the Pacific Island Advisory Cultural Trust. The trust hosts several health and youth programmes for the Pacific Community in Southland.

For more information on the Trust’s services, contact 03 2146089 or visit them at 135 Bowmont Street, Invercargill.