Closing the Connection Gap: New Zealanders, the Pacific and Global Affairs

In a time marked by complex global issues and changing regional dynamics, the relationships between New Zealand, the Pacific, and the wider international community have become more vital than ever.

Next week,in collaboration with the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA), iFoundation (PCF), we will co-host an essential and thought-provoking panel discussion titled Closing the Connection Gap: New Zealanders, the Pacific, and Global Affairs.

The event builds on insights from the 2025 Perceptions of New Zealanders of the Pacific Report, a nationwide study that offers a timely pulse check on how New Zealanders view the Pacific, Pacific peoples, and Aotearoa’s place in the region. The findings reveal a deep respect for Pacific nations, but also a “connection gap” between values and lived engagement — a theme that will underpin the evening’s discussion.

We will share key findings from the report, and following this, a distinguished panel of experts will explore the challenges and prospects of strengthening ties, focusing on crucial topics such as regional cooperation, cultural exchange, and New Zealand’s evolving role within the Pacific and on the international stage.

Speakers

• Hon Carmel Sepuloni, Member of Parliament and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
  Former Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and long-serving advocate for inclusion, arts, and Pacific engagement.

• Mr Sione Tekiteki, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Auckland University of Technology
  A former Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat director with extensive experience in public international law, diplomacy, and regional security.

• Ms Sarah Fetuani, Law Student, University of Auckland
  Emerging Pacific scholar and NZIIA Auckland member, with a background in international security and public policy.

Moderator: Hamish McDougall, Executive Director, New Zealand Institute of International Affairs

Light refreshments and drinks will be provided.

This Auckland discussion marks the first in a national series of events co-hosted by PCF and NZIIA, with further sessions to follow in Wellington and Christchurch later this year. Together, these conversations will explore how New Zealand can move from awareness to meaningful action — closing the connection gap and building stronger, more authentic relationships across Te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa.

👉 Learn more or register: for Auckland here https://nziia.org.nz/events/closing-the-connection-gap-new-zealanders-the-pacific-and-global-affairs/