Our vision is that Pasefika peoples voices are heard, elevated and supported in a socially just and inclusive Aotearoa New Zealand.
The historical and regional ties between Pasefika, and their home nations, and Aotearoa are strong and binding. Pasefika contribute much to the economy, wellbeing and social tapestry of Aotearoa.
Pasefika in Aotearoa are resilient and they thrive through the many challenges they have and continue to face.
Poutū Pasefika supports and invests in initiatives that advance equity for Pasefika peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand. It prioritises transformational system change to remove obstacles to Pasefika peoples fulfilling their potential.
Through our work, we hope to see:
- More connected communities
- More inclusive decision making
- Increased Pasefika capacity and capabilities
- Increased access to resources
- More equitable access to resources
Our Priorities
Support community innovation, voice and leadership.
Strengthen collaboration and support collective action.
Grow capacity to progress systems-focused solutions.
Funding opportunities
We're currently focusing on supporting groups and organisations who are making impact in the following areas:
- Pasefika Advocacy
- Pasefika-led and collaborative approaches for collective interest
- Cultural wellbeing & intergenerational indigenous approaches to building resilience
All initiatives must be culturally informed, following our guiding principles set out below.
Guiding Principles
Support Pasefika values of Alofa, Family, Reciprocity and Spirituality
By Pasefika for Pasefika
Build support and maintain relationships
Here are some of the incredible initiatives we've supported:
DigiKōr Podcasting Project
The DigiKōr Podcasting Project is the brainchild of Will Fleming and Campfire Studios in Auckland. The project is about connecting through kōrero to facilitate safe, open, honest, and compassionate conversations with young people and their elders. The J R McKenzie Trust support is a collaboration with Campfire Studios to design and implement a podcasting course that is informed by a response identified by Pasefika communities for more meaningful connections and talanoa with aiga. The course would provide important skills around digital creation and how it can be used to enhance wellbeing and strengthen identity, connection, and access opportunities to influence more inclusive decision-making from transformational change.
Ranui 135 Youth Trust
Ranui 135 is a grassroots Youth Development Trust which initially grew out of members who were involved with the Ranui Action Group Project’s Youth Focus group of 2001. The group saw a need to provide positive opportunities for young people to have a voice and to elevate that voice in their community. The J R McKenzie Trust’s collaboration with Ranui 135 is to support their three year initiative “Kumiaga ke he aga Motu” (Searching for Culture). The initiative is focused on working with the West Auckland matua Niue community to gather their stories, histories, and heritage, and for Ranui 135 to bring together the Niuean diaspora searching for culture and re-connection between both their young and old in culturally safe environments, and through digitally transformative ways.
Zeal
Zeal is an Aotearoa youth organisation providing safe, inclusive local and online spaces for young New Zealanders. The J R McKenzie Trust are currently supporting Zeal with a three year initiative focused on increasing tech opportunities for Pasefika and Māori West Auckland rangatahi, specifically through facilitating fortnightly youth tech refurbishing/e-sports clubs, and hosting tech expos teaching 200 rangatahi per year to refurbish computers.
Malaga Sā Strings Orchestra
Malaga Sā is a voluntary Pasefika community group established through a collaboration of Pasefika families in the Porirua East community, who came together in December 2021 to talanoa a potential journey and narrative for our Pasefika youth based on the premise that they are enough. They are enough to overcome the intergenerational impacts of colonisation on Pasefika youth by disrupting the current trajectory of these impacts from impoverished to empowered, from oppression to creation, from exclusion to inclusion, and from colonisation to community. The J R McKenzie Trust support is focused on providing Malaga Sā with a platform for their medium to long term goal of establishing a Porirua based Pasefika Community Creative & Performing Arts Trust, with the launch of the Malaga Sā Strings Youth Orchestra in March 2023.
"la tautai o se mata'alia"
“Let the boat be guided by an experienced helmsman”
Tautau mata'alia is a Samoan term that describes the characteristics of chosen individuals placed at the helm of their respective organisations. They are competent and can be relied on by those they speak and act for.
Tautai mata'alia bridge that space between their repective organisations and the JR McKenzie Trust. In difficult and challenging situations, tautai mata'alia are chosen and relied upon to guide the organisation / group to achieve their purpose.
