Tauola Business Fund - Round 1

The aims of the Tauola Business Fund were to:

• Create employment pathways for Pacific peoples 
• Improve Pacific peoples’ participation in the labour market
• Demonstrate capability and capacity to increase productivity and stimulate growth
• Strengthen Pacific-owned businesses to be more successful and sustainable
• Increase resilience through the challenges of COVID-19

Applicants were able apply for up to $100,000 excl. GST and are required to contribute a minimum of 15% of the requested amount.

The Fund has now closed.

The Tauola Business Fund closed at 9pm on Friday 27 May.

To be eligible, businesses had to:

• Align with the Ministry for Pacific People’s Lalanga Fou Goal 2: Prosperous Pacific Communities.
• Be a Pacific business located outside of Auckland.
• Be a Pacific business operating commercially in New Zealand and be GST registered.
• Be a limited liability and partnership business with a minimum of 50% Pacific ownership.
• Commit to co-contributing 15% of the requested funding
• Have a turnover of $60,000 per financial year.
• Be trading for at least 12 months.
• Provide an up-to-date business plan.
• Provide 12 months financial statements.
• Provide a business initiative proposal as outlined below. 

The Fund has now closed.

The Tauola Business Fund was available for initiatives that are aligned to (but not limited to) the following:

• Build capacity and capability to create employment opportunities for Pacific peoples.
• Demonstrate commitment to improving Pacific participation in the labour market.
• Increase productivity, scale up, and job creation within 6 months of receiving the funds.
• Build capacity and capability to participate in economic development projects in the regions.
• Demonstrate good health and safety practices.

The Fund has now closed.

The Tauola Business Fund was not available for:

• Businesses located in Auckland
• A new business idea or a feasibility study. 
• A financial subsidy for salaries and wages. 
• Travel, accommodation, or fact-finding tours. 
• Social housing (however, 3rd party construction and infrastructure contractors providing labour and equipment to the build may be eligible). 
• Infrastructure: roads, bridges, power stations, water storage or supply (however, 3rd party construction and infrastructure contractors providing labour and equipment to the build may be eligible). 
• New mineral or other exploration (but could expand or pivot an existing exploration business) 
• Renovation or remediation of commercial buildings where the focus is not productive expansion and jobs. 
• Programmes and activities delivered overseas including the NZ realm countries.
• Digital capability and marketing, financial literacy, business mentorship, project management, Strategic and business Planning, Health and Safety and HR capability
• Infrastructure, fixed assets, and capital expenditure.
• Academic research and other academic activities.
• Debt repayment or debt servicing.

The Fund has now closed.

Coming soon

If you need more information about the Tauola Business Fund, please email [email protected].

List of recipients for the first round of Tauola Business funding are as follows: