For four decades, PACIFCA Incorporated has provided an avenue for Pacific women in Aotearoa to be a collective voice, to champion good causes, and to effect real change at the grass roots level and beyond.
The national non-government organisation (NGO) was established following a Pacific women’s’ conference in Auckland in 1976.
All women are eligible to become members of the organisation, irrespective of background, faith and ethnicity, as long as they agree to support and abide by the aims and objectives of the organisation.
President of the Wellington Central branch Natalia Faretihas been a member of PACIFICA for just over three years, having held roles as the Young PACIFICA Leader, and Secretary for the Wellington branch.
She says PACIFICA is an awesome organisation which has objectives she supports.
“These include providing opportunities for Pacific women to plan and work together for the development of themselves, their families, communities, and for the country, and promoting unity and understanding between women from different backgrounds and cultures.”
Each year PACIFICA stages a national conference, with Wellington Central Branch hosting this year’s conference, from February 15-17 in the Capital (please note: registrations have closed).
This year’s theme is Growing Pacific Success, with the first day of the conference taking stage at parliament, where policy, legislation and decisions are agreed on and made, Natalia explains.
“This is where the collective voice of PACIFICA can have a real influence.
“It’s about providing a space for inter-generational sharing of knowledge and ideas, fostering mind-sets, particularly our youth, to recognise their own talents and voices, and to grow these.”
The organisation aims to inform and empower attendees about how they and the wider Pacific community can effectively engage with and influence real change through Government, Natalia adds.
“We are aiming to particularly encourage our Pacific youth to realise their potential in this space.”
This empowerment can be achieved through effective engagement at a grassroots level, workshops and talanoa with our members, and sharing our learnings more broadly, Natalia adds.
There are 17 branches across the nation, which means there is always something happening within the organisation, from informative breakfasts to empowering youth events.
To keep up to date with PACIFICA events, which aim to create confident, resilient and prosperous, thriving Pacific individuals in Aotearoa, visit PACIFCA Inc or your local branch’s Facebook page.