Utilising the "village" (It takes a village to raise a child) approach, the West Auckland Pasifika Forum seeks to create a space for collective impact with and for Pasifika communities.

The West Auckland Pasifika Forum Community Trust (Vaka) began in 2012 as a network (community) of people within organisations that were working with and for Pasifika young people, in response to Pasifika challenges. A Pasifika Youth Development programme 'Tula'i' was born from this initial consortium.

In 2019, the group formally became an Incorporated Trust, and in 2021, the official Board (Vaka) membership significantly changed. In 2022, became a Registered Charitable Trust, and with this, the Board membership expanded to ensure the right people and connections, skills and talent, are able to continue the Vaka forward.

The Vaka is an independent consortium of individuals that acts as a conduit for facilitation, delivery and advocacy with and for the West Auckland Pasifika Community.

It provides a space (va) where the Pasifika community can come together and discuss issues and create Pasifika-led solutions pertinent to Pasifika in West Auckland. This is a space (va) to educate and equip Pasifika people with tools, skills, and solutions to go out and share with their community, and the Vaka seeks to advocate on behalf of the community.

A space (va) to address and facilitate collective Pasifika issues, voices, and answers:

• Issues (obesity, health, early mortality, poverty, violence, drugs, alcohol, education, employment, finances, wellbeing)

• Voices (what the community see as issues and challenges)

• Answers (what the community see as solutions)

Our Vision is to support Pasifika to continue to innately lead through:

• Providing culturally enhanced environments

• Advocating for equitable outcomes

• Supporting Pasifika to navigate systems in New Zealand

Our goals are to ensure Pasifika communities:

• Understand their value

• Empowered to use their voice

• Equipped to overcome the challenges faced

We aim to do this by empowering Pasifika to lead.

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