The New Zealand Pasifika business community is hoping this year's Budget will take into consideration a number of its needs as it copes with Covid-19.
More guidance and support is needed in the Budget's goals for the Pacific community, experts say. Photo: Linkedin
Last year's Budget provided a $NZ108 million Pacific package to support the wellbeing of Pacific peoples through the rebuild and recovery from the pandemic.
Chairperson of the Waikato Pasifika Business Network Rachel Afeaki-Taumoepeau said she hopes the government will address the mental impacts the pandemic has had on Pasifika business owners.
Afeaki-Taumoepeau said Pasifika businesses, particularly those in smaller cities, are still struggling to stay operational.
"Support business owners who too have experienced the mental health and wellbeing pressures of actually operating throughout the pandemic," she said.
"They've had to dip into their own pocket just to look after their staff, sustain their staff and in some parts they've had to release staff members which has had a bigger impact on our families."
Afeaki-Taumoepeau also added that the growth of residential housing in smaller towns will mean a high demand for construction - a sector in which most Pacific businesses operate.
"Housing is a massive need for our Pasifika people but why can't our Pasifika-owned businesses be part of that solution?
"Therefore it would be really great to see a budget where Pasifika can leverage and build and participate in these much needed sectors that will also accommodate the needs of our Pasifika people."
Other Pacific business people say the government will need to be clear on accessibility and allocation of the funds from this year's Budget.
Entrepreneur Julius Mataupu said there hasn't been clear oversight in the past.
"I'm hoping to see the government and those that are in charge to be able to shine a light on accountability around outcomes of how the budget is spent on Pacific businesses," he said.
"There is a lot of funding and a lot of grants but when it comes to holding organisations and companies accountable oversight is not necessarily a strong point."
The managing director of Pacific digital platform BluTV, Hana Schmidt, said while the previous budget provided significant amount of funds for Pacific business owners, there was a lack of culturally competent information on its accessibility.
"I think there should be a bit more investment in properly marketing and breaking down what these funds actually mean for Pacific business owners," she said.
"Pacific business owners were aware that there were 'x' amount of million dollars allocated for Pacific businesses but they weren't aware of what that actually meant."
Although the pandemic will be an ongoing challenge for Pacific business owners, collaboration and upskilling their digital capabilities will benefit them in the long-run.
Schmidt said her business has helped many Pacific people who are looking for opportunities in the digital, film and creative space. She hopes other Pacific businesses will follow suit.
"It would be great to get some guidance for businesses on how they could potentially partner up with 'Tupu Aotearoa' which is an organisation dedicated to getting Pasifika people into work and figure out how they can get Pacific people employed straight into Pacific businesses."
Mataupu said the pandemic demonstrated how businesses have used digital platforms to stay operational and is an area that the upcoming Budget should look into for Pacific businesses.
"Covid highlighted the importance of small business understanding how to pivot the digital platforms and navigating that space.
"It'll be good to see some of that budget going to service providers who are willing to articulate to small Pacific businesses how to do that."
