PCF has today announced a refreshed strategic identity and public‑facing name — Pacific Collaborative Futures — marking a significant shift in how the organisation positions itself across Aotearoa New Zealand and the wider Pacific region.

The change reflects PCF’s renewed focus on collaboration, capability‑building, and Pacific‑led innovation, and was endorsed unanimously by the Board.

“This work has helped us get excited again about PCF’s future,” said one trustee. “This clarity is exactly what was needed.”

A clearer identity for a changing Pacific system

PCF’s Vision and Mission remain unchanged. The repositioning is not a rebrand, but a strategic reset designed to make PCF’s role clear and compelling for a new generation of decision‑makers, funders, and regional partners.

The refreshed identity strengthens PCF’s ability to articulate its unique role as an independent connector, catalyst, convener and influencer across the Pacific region.

“The repositioning made everything click,” said another trustee. “It clearly shows what PCF does, why it matters, and where it is uniquely positioned.”

Pacific Collaborative Futures is proud to celebrate our ongoing partnership with Tonga Health Society, where Pacific interns are supported to grow, lead, and contribute in culturally grounded clinical environments. This year, interns Manisha Prema and Ema Iki thrived under the mentorship of Dr Glenn Doherty and Dr Shannon Fulton — with Manisha offered a full‑time role and Ema accepted into the Auckland School of Medicine for 2026. A powerful example of Pacific capability in action.

PCF at he Aotearoa Youth Declaration 2026, engaging in a dynamic talanoa with diverse young leaders. The discussion explored Pacific geopolitics, regional frameworks, and historical lessons, such as the Banaba case, highlighting the importance of informed youth leadership in a rapidly shifting world. The experience reinforced PCF’s mission to champion Pacific capability, amplify youth voice, and support Pacific-led pathways for the region’s future.

Thailand was never just a place I visited—it became a teacher, a mirror, and a catalyst for growth I didn’t know I needed. I return home with a steadier sense of self, a deeper connection to my Pasifika identity, and a new understanding of what it means to contribute with care rather than certainty. The lessons were not loud or dramatic; they lived in small moments of courage, kindness, and connection. I carry them forward with gratitude, knowing that the confidence I found there will continue to shape how I show up in unfamiliar spaces. Until we meet again, Thailand.

When Papua New Guinean scholar Jessica Magala stepped into the Ministry for Pacific Peoples for her summer internship, she expected to learn about policy. What she didn’t expect was how deeply the experience would shape her confidence, her sense of belonging, and her understanding of Aotearoa’s public sector.

Working within the Operations team, Jessica contributed to a ministerial project exploring how Pacific education providers could engage with micro‑credentials — an emerging area of innovation in tertiary learning. She researched, drafted memos, and supported policy conversations that directly influence Pacific communities.

One of the defining moments of her internship came when she shared her billum weaving with international visitors from the World Crafts Council, connecting culture, creativity, and diplomacy in a way that felt both natural and deeply meaningful.

Tongan creative and PMSA intern Soana ‘Aleva shares her powerful reflections from Thailand, where she has been living, learning, and teaching as part of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Programme for Asia. From drumming and dancing with Thai performing arts groups to teaching Māori movement after school, Soana’s journey is a vibrant story of cultural exchange, global citizenship, and Pacific creativity in motion.

Her time in southern Thailand has deepened her sense of identity, expanded her worldview, and strengthened her belief in the value of carrying Pacific culture confidently into global spaces. In this insights piece, Soana reflects on the connections she has built, the lessons she has learned, and the ancestral intelligence she brings with her as a young Pacific leader representing Aotearoa abroad.

Young Pacific leaders from across Aotearoa are now halfway through a transformative nine‑week journey in Thailand, supported through the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Programme for Asia. Representing the growing Pan‑Pacific diaspora of New Zealand, these emerging educators, technologists, youth workers, and community leaders are living and learning in five Thai provinces — carrying their cultures, values, and ancestral intelligence into classrooms and communities.

Delivered in partnership with Pagoda Projects and aligned with Education New Zealand’s International Education Strategy, the programme is a powerful example of global citizenship in action.

This blog shares their journey so far — the learning, the leadership, the cultural exchange, and the profound impact of seeing the world through a Pacific lens.

Pacific youth are not waiting for the future — they’re leading it. Through PCF’s strategic partnership with The Hacker Exchange (HEX), two young innovators travelled from Aotearoa to Bangkok to immerse themselves in a global innovation hub and bring Pacific excellence to the world stage. Jesse Gibson and Benika Vandermeer returned home with bold ideas, new confidence, and a vision for impact that reaches far beyond themselves. Their journeys show what’s possible when Pacific youth are given the opportunity to lead forward — and why PCF is committed to expanding these pathways for the next generation of Pacific changemakers.

PCF has launched a bold new chapter in Pacific youth innovation through our strategic partnership with The Hacker Exchange (HEX). In 2025, we sent our first two Pacific delegates to join HEX’s global innovation programme in Bangkok — a milestone that reflects PCF’s commitment to building world‑class pathways for Pacific leadership, entrepreneurship, and mobility. This partnership strengthens PCF’s role in the Pacific innovation ecosystem and aligns with national and regional priorities across government, business, and community. As demand for global opportunities grows, PCF is investing in the next generation of Pacific changemakers — and calling on partners to help us expand these life‑changing experiences for future cohorts.

PCF was proud to welcome Manaaki Scholars from across the Asia-Pacific into the heart of the Pacific—Māngere—for a day of connection, learning, and action. For many, it was their first time venturing beyond central Auckland, and you could feel the buzz in the air as they explored the Saturday markets, met locals, and discovered the warmth of Pacific hospitality.

But the real purpose of the day was collaboration: working alongside Watercare on their public campaign to educate communities about biosolids—what happens after you flush, and how wastewater is transformed into something that can restore land. From lively conversations at the Festive Zone to a powerful visit to Puketutu Island, where biosolids are being used to regenerate the whenua, the scholars experienced firsthand how knowledge meets practice in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This day was more than an outing—it was a celebration of shared values, a chance to extend manaaki beyond the campus, and a reminder of how Pacific youth leadership can shine when given real-world opportunities.

In an era of complex global challenges and shifting regional dynamics, New Zealand’s relationship with the Pacific is under the spotlight. Are we living up to our values in the Pacific? This was the central theme of a recent event co-hosted by the Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF) and the NZ Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA) in Auckland. The discussion – “Closing the Connection Gap: New Zealanders, the Pacific, and Global Affairs” – explored how to bridge the gap between New Zealanders’ expressed values toward the Pacific and their day-to-day engagement with our Pacific neighbours. It was an evening of talanoa (open dialogue), bringing together data insights and personal perspectives to connect the dots between awareness and action.

As New Zealand navigates shifting global relationships and a changing Pacific landscape, understanding how we see and connect with our Pacific neighbours has never been more important.

Join us for Closing the Connection Gap: New Zealanders, the Pacific, and Global Affairs — a thought-provoking panel series presented in collaboration with the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA).

Grounded in insights from the 2025 Perceptions of New Zealanders of the Pacific Report, this discussion explores what it means for Aotearoa to be a Pacific nation, how we can deepen our relationships across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa, and what steps we can take to bridge the connection gap.

🌺 PCF Board Vacancies 🌺
The Pacific Cooperation Foundation is seeking new Trustees to help guide our vision of strengthening Pacific identity, deepening relationships, and amplifying Pacific voices. If you bring governance experience, Pacific lived expertise, and skills in areas such as finance, trade, creative industries, climate, or youth leadership — we’d love to hear from you.

Seeds of Change in Vanuatu

As part of SPC’s Promoting Pacific Islands Nature-Based Solutions (PPIN) project, PCF delivered a Farmer Field School (FFS) programme in Vanuatu — the first formal agricultural training for many of the farmers who attended.

Led by Tongan trainer Tevita Ngaloafe Tukia, the week-long programme brought together men and women from across Efate, Nguna, and Emau to learn hands-on organic farming practices, climate-smart solutions, and inclusive facilitation skills.

More than training, this initiative is about building local capacity, strengthening women’s participation, and creating a sustainable network of farmer facilitators who will continue sharing knowledge long after the classroom closes.

Pacific student and PCF intern Tali Papalangi Po’oi reflects on her transformative experience at the Amotai Navigate Diversity Summit, exploring Pasifika and Māori collaboration, indigenous leadership, and the power of unity to create meaningful change.

A Lasting Legacy

As an organisation, we are grateful for Shelley’s service and leadership. While we mourn her passing, we also celebrate the legacy she leaves behind – a legacy of empowerment, courage, and dedication to her people and her region.

Fa’afetai tele lava, Shelley. Your vision and commitment will continue to inspire our work, and your impact will be felt across generations.

🕊️ Rest in peace, Seumalu Shelley Burich – Board member, leader, and friend.

Step into a journey that will challenge, inspire, and connect you. We are calling for Expressions of Interest for our next Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia (PMSA) Thailand Experience. Delivered in partnership with Education New Zealand Manapou ki te ao, Pagoda Projects, and Princess Chulabhorn Schools, this programme offers Pacific participants the chance to build global citizenship skills, explore Thailand’s STEM and innovation sectors, and bring fresh insights home. Hear from past PMSA Vietnam alumni whose experiences transformed their perspectives — and see how this could be your next big ste

PCF secures PMSA funding for 9-week Pacific internship in Thailand
In partnership with Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, Pagoda Projects, and Thailand’s Princess Chulabhorn Science High Schools, is proud to launch a fully funded internship programme for Pacific young people. Running November 2025 to February 2026, this work-integrated learning experience empowers participants to grow as global citizens while deepening cultural connections across the Asia-Pacific. Expressions of Interest are now open.

As part of the We Need to Talk About D.E.V.E.L.O.P.M.E.N.T panel at the AAPS 2025 Conference hosted by the University of Sydney, I had the privilege of joining a deeply reflective and challenging conversation alongside KDee Aimiti Ma’ia’i and Opeta Alefaio — each bringing layered perspectives on how Pacific development has been shaped, resisted, and reimagined.

In my contribution, I offered a provocation: what if we moved from transactional aid to relational investment? Drawing from the work of the Pacific Cooperation Foundation — from our narrative-shifting Perceptions research to the relational models we embed in our internships, innovation sprints, and alumni engagement — I argued for development that centres Pacific values, leadership, and agency.

As global powers compete for influence across the Blue Pacific, questions are rising about how aid is delivered, who it serves, and what future it’s shaping. I

This op-ed challenges donors, policymakers, and regional institutions to rethink aid effectiveness and prioritise Pacific voices, Pacific leadership, and Pacific futures.