PACIFIC SETTLEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES OPENS IN AUCKLAND
Pacific Settlement Support Services, a first of its kind service in New Zealand, was set up 3 months ago by 3 Samoan women, Zeprina Fale, Laura Keil-Hall and Mandy Si'itia through a collaboration between their organisations. Zeprina and Mandy through Bluespur Charitable Trust and Laura through LKH Consulting. Laura also owns and runs The Pacific Business Hub.
Later they connected with Roberta Tiatia and Sheryl Silitia of Lototau Agency Immigration Services based in Samoa whom they now work closely with and as a partner in Samoa doing pre-migration work.
“We saw the need for this service based on our own shared migration experiences” says Zeprina
“Statistics and anecdotal feedback from many of our Pacific people points to the lack of settlement support and a need for a service such as this” she continues
Mandy Siitia adds “For us it’s continuing the work that some of our Pacific Island families have been doing since the 1950s”
Laura Keil-Hall adds that she has been involved with talks and conversations with some Government people and stakeholders in the past and tried to push for something like this but it was always an uphill battle. She says this is a crucial service that is needed by our people and yet no one wanted to do anything about it until she met Zeprina and Mandy who were equally passionate about the cause.
"What PSSS wants to do is to position our Pacific people for prosperity and give them the best start possible with life in New Zealand." said Laura
Because it’s never been done before, the PSSS team are looking to flex and adjust according to the needs of the people, and the programme to be delivered in a way that is culturally relevant and spiritually sensitive but they will primarily be providing settlement support services for Pacific newcomers to New Zealand which includes those who have been successful through the Samoan quota or the Pacific Access Category (PAC). The service is not funded so a fee is charged for the services.
The PSSS opened its doors to its first clients on the 12th of September at the Pacific Business Hub in Manukau City and 30+ people arrived from Samoa and were received by the PSSS team. The day was opened with prayer by Pastor Lui Ponifasio for the newcomers about their new life in New Zealand and he encouraged them not to give up when things got difficult. He also encouraged everyone to get involved in their new communities and enjoy the many opportunities that NZ has to offer.
This was followed by a presentation by the New Zealand Police, delivered in the Samoan language, informing and educating the people about Law & Order as well as a presentation from Inland Revenue Department who helped the team with processing IRD numbers.
Friday saw the team doing one-on-one sessions with each individual or family to find out what their immediate needs are and what their goals are in the near future with the day ending with the team taking them to the Bank to open bank accounts.
To make contact with Pacific Settlement Support Services, you may visit their office in Auckland, 9 Sharkey Street, Manukau City or contact +64 218 8273 or +64 21 963 301.