With an increasing population, the Pacific workforce is crucial to the sustainability of industry in Aotearoa New Zealand. Employers benefit from understanding the needs and culture of their Pacific workforce, which is why Juken New Zealand (JNL) in Masterton has such a strong and committed staff.
A customised and flexible approach to work and on-the-job training enables JNL to retain and progress its Pacific workforce through the business and into higher-paid positions.
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Masterton is home to Juken New Zealand Limited’s (JNL) Wairarapa mill. For over 30 years, JNL has been part of New Zealand’s forestry and wood-processing industries, manufacturing advanced and innovative wood products. JNL has a diverse workforce, including a significant proportion of Pacific workers, each with their own unique experiences and contributions. These Pacific workers, like their colleagues, play a pivotal role in shaping the workplace culture and driving productivity.
And they are not just pivotal to JNL – the Pacific workforce is a vital and growing part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy. In the 2023 census, the Pacific population increased to 442,632 people, 8.9 per cent of the overall population, up from 381,642 (8.1 per cent) in 2018. The Pacific population is young and dynamic, playing a crucial role in manufacturing.
“I live where they live. I went to the same schools and walked the same streets,” Anita Vaafusuaga of DNA First Solution (left) says. This shared life experience provides Anita with insights into the needs of her workforce and uniquely equips her to offer local rangatahi tailored opportunities and support.
“I left school at 13 with no qualifications and didn’t start this business until 2012 at age 55. I hope that the people who work with us here can see my story and know that it’s never too late.”
DNA 1st Solution provides contract packing, warehousing, order fulfilment, distribution, and staffing solutions from their headquarters in Onehunga. “When I first took over the business, it was packaging only. I saw an opportunity to reach the youth in our community – those who had dropped out of school or didn’t want to go – and get them off the street and off the benefit. It’s been a long road and we’ve made a lot of structural changes to make it work, but we’ve never stopped asking questions and responding to the needs of our community.”
Aotearoa New Zealand’s Pacific populations are expected to reach half a million people by 2028, Infometrics’ forecast shows, with younger Pacific people the fastest-growing demographic compared to other ethnic groups. Despite this growth, Pacific people remain under-represented in our workforce, and where they are present, they are predominantly in lower-paid roles. Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development Council (WDC) recognises these trends and the opportunity they present.
“Enabling business to better support the increasing Pacific workforce will enrich the lives of those on the job while addressing critical skills shortages across the manufacturing, engineering and logistics sectors,” says Fred Luatua, Hanga-Aro-Rau Pacific Workforce Development Team Lead. “Our industries are crying out for workers, and it’s so important for Aotearoa as a whole, and for our economy, to work collaboratively and lift opportunities for Pacific peoples. The more we strengthen this particular workforce, the more productivity we can expect to see across our industries.”
“We need employers and leaders who know our struggles and aspirations,” says Manaini Cama (Fiji), Pacific Workforce Development Lead for Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development Council (WDC). “Pacific women need to see our sisters up there; to be able to say, ‘She’s wearing the same five hats I’m wearing and she’s nailing it’. That’s how we inspire others to know they can do it, too.”
“Diversifying our workforces to better attract, retain and progress women is a critical enabler to strengthen the New Zealand economy.” says CE Philip Alexander-Crawford. “Hanga-Aro-Rau is committed to building a more productive and prosperous New Zealand by giving employers the skills to attract and retain a rapidly changing workforce”. Hanga-Aro-Rau acknowledges that Pacific peoples generally remain under-represented in our industries, despite being among the fastest-growing demographics in Aotearoa. Where they are present in the workforce, they are predominately in lower-paid roles, with pay and progression inequities notably exacerbated for Pacific women who make, on average, $0.75 for every dollar that Pākehā men make.
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