‘Pasifika in Aotearoa: New Zealand in the Pacific’

2nd Young Pacific Leaders’ Conference
8th & 9th March, 2007
Aotea Centre, Auckland Central

Kia Ora, Talofa Lava, Hello, Kia Orana, Taloha Ni, Nisa Bula,
Fakaalofa Lahi Atu, Fakatalofa Atu, Malo e Lelei, Halo Olaketa.

The second Young Pacific Leaders’ Conference (YPLC) will be held in The Aotea Centre, Lower NZI, Central Auckland, during Celebrate Pasifika and immediately before the Pasifika Festival at Western Springs. The inaugural YPLC was held in Parliament in October 2006. You can listen to that first YPLC Conference online at www.firstfound.org

The YPLC 2007 programme has an exciting range of presenters, (politicians, pastors, business people, footballers, lawyers, advisors and people in government and community service). Their topics range widely too, but all relate to encouraging and developing Pacific peoples’ potential as local, regional and national leaders now and in the future.

Most Young Pacific Leaders attending will be aged between 20 and 40, and have already demonstrated their leadership skills where they work, play and pray.

The Conference Programme, Registration Form and Further information may be obtained from our website www.firstfound.org

Programme Purpose
Good leaders and their actions are both valuable and infectious. Once strong leadership skills have been developed and recognised, they are portable, i.e. transferable to many different settings – to your work or your sports club or your church.

The prime objective of YPLC 2007 is to encourage and develop emerging Pasifika leaders, (both men and women) generally aged 20-40yrs from across all communities, languages and localities, to make them strong, decisive and an asset to the community and the nation.

There will be ample opportunity for formal and informal interaction with others during the two days, and to discuss what is important to Pacific peoples here in Aotearoa and beyond.

As this is election year for local and regional councils, one of the important issues is having an effective voice on city, district and regional councils. A panel of serving Pacific city councillors will be there to face up to questions developed by young leaders attending the conference. But Pasifika people’s are under-represented at all levels of government; that is an issue.

This conference is designed to attract dynamic Pasifika men and women from all walks of life to participate in this exciting programme, who will contribute to their own communities and others in Aotearoa and who will make their mark in New Zealand as a Pacific nation-state. The organisers want participants who will listen, learn, , discuss, respond, and share their ideas and experiences.

Expected Outcomes
After this conference is over and the dust settles, we expect to have more Pacific leaders, (young and old) who are better informed, and know how to act in the community’s interest.

This is a first-class opportunity to network with other participants during and afterwards. Meeting new friends and colleagues, exchanging new ideas and developing plans of action with others of like mind and interest, in similar jobs or different localities is a really positive outcome.

Recognising and conveying the facts about major concerns in Pasifika communities and the country is a necessary start to understanding effects and seeking possible solutions is another important outcome.

The discussion groups contribute to the final session on day two, and their recommendations are published on F.I.R.S.T. Foundation’s website www.firstfound.org and in written proceedings. Then its up to policy and decision-makers. .

PLEASE SHARE THIS NOTICE WITH YOUR EMPLOYER WHO MAY SPONSOR YOUR ATTENDANCE, AND WITH FRIENDS, WHANAU AND PASIFIKA COLLEAGUES WHO MAY ALSO WANT TO ATTEND.

Pasifika in Aotearoa: New Zealand in the Pacific YPLC 2007 is a CelebratePasifika event. It is sponsored by The F.I.R.S.T. Foundation in association with Pacific Business Trust, Waitata Artist Trust, and The Edge

Belinda.Hohaia
for the Trustees of The F.I.R.S.T. Foundation
(Foundation for Indigenous Research in Society & Technology)
Box 1078, Shortland Street P.O., Auckland 1140
Phone (09) 360 5166, Fax (09) 360 5167
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