Growing Pacific supplier diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand
24 February 2022
Today, New Zealand’s Pacific economic development agency Pacific Business Trust (PBT) and Aotearoa’s supplier diversity intermediary Amotai have formalised their working relationship by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
PBT and Amotai working closely together will further support Pasifika-owned businesses throughout Aotearoa New Zealand into business opportunities. The two agencies will collaborate on an initiative to grow and strengthen the Pasifika economy by enhancing their procurement readiness, connecting them with big buyer supplier chains wanting to purchase goods, services and works, known as supplier diversity development.
“For the Pacific Business Trust to partner with Amotai, who are both working in the procurement space, working and advocating so hard to build awareness with the regulators and decision makers about the benefits of working with Pasifika businesses, this is huge. We look forward to working closely with Amotai,” says Pelenato Sakalia, PBT’s Chief Executive.
Amotai Manukura Ariana Paul adds “We really appreciate the work that PBT is doing to uplift Pasifika whānau and their businesses. The wonderful part of our partnership with PBT, is that we can bring our individual strengths together, both from a supply and a demand perspective, to form a very strong proposition. It’s an honour to be a part of this kaupapa, I love what Pacific Business Trust is doing – Māori and Pasifika working together, hand in hand and really strengthening the economy, here in Tāmaki Makaurau, and throughout Aotearoa."
Central and Local Government, alongside the private sector, are increasingly seeking to achieve broader outcomes through their social procurement activities, strengthening economic, environmental, cultural and social outcomes for Aotearoa New Zealand.
Background
- Auckland’s Pacific population is now the third largest ethnic group in the region (Census 2018), projected to reach 17 per cent of the population in the next 20 years, and be one third of the working-age population by 2030.
- The Pacific Business Trust (PBT) is the nation’s Pacific economic development agency appointed by central government, it has a diverse range of funders and delivers business-focused programmes as well as encouraging private sector collaborations.
- PBT’s Procurement Support Service is designed to help Pacific business owners participate successfully in procurement processes. It has developed a culturally tailored, industry-leading support programme that includes workshops to help business develop key capabilities, gain key accreditations such as Health and Safety, and access specialist professional services relevant to procurement, as well as customised one-on-one business development.
- Amotai is Aotearoa's supplier diversity intermediary tasked with connecting Māori and Pasifika owned businesses with buyers wanting to purchase goods, services and works.
- Amotai verifies Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses and holds a national database of Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses that are ready for work.
- Amotai also provides practical advice and support to Buyer members so they can successfully engage with more Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses. This practice, commonly known as supplier diversity and development, is a dynamic and evolving discipline.