Stepping Into the Future: A Pacific Intern’s Reflection on the Amotai Navigate Diversity Summit
by Tali Po’oi
Reflective Story on the AMOTAI Navigate Diversity Summit
Mālō e lelei.
My name is Tali Papalangi Po’oi, a young full-time Pacific student from Unitec Institute of Technology. I’m currently studying Business Management, with a major in Human Resources, and I’ve been fortunate enough to undertake a 12-week internship with the Pacific Cooperation Foundation. Attending the Amotai summit was a powerful and eye-opening experience.
Coming from a background working in factory and retail jobs, I never imagined myself stepping into spaces like this; spaces that focus on business leadership, cultural collaboration, and indigenous excellence. Being part of this event while completing my degree felt like stepping into the future I once thought was impossible. The summit helped me understand the distinct yet connected perspectives of Pasifika and Māori communities.
One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of collaboration. Even though we come from different cultural and business backgrounds, the goal is the same: to uplift our people. To create a truly positive impact, we must support each other, buyers and suppliers alike, by sharing opportunities instead of gatekeeping. That kind of unity is how we begin to take apart racism and decolonise the systems that have held us back.
Our Pacific Cooperation Foundation team was involved in a panel where Joanna Bourke, the CEO, spoke passionately about encouraging our people to step out of their comfort zones and aim higher. The panel challenged us to think about how we can work together to raise up Pasifika voices in corporate, governance, and political spaces. This connected closely with the Foundation’s motto: “Strengthening Our Commitment.” To me, that means standing strong in our identity, committing to future generations, and empowering our people to lead with confidence. After the panel, we joined various workshops.
Members of the Maa-nulth Treaty Society.
Joanna and I attended one led by the Maa-nulth Treaty Society from Canada, an organisation focused on eco-development and indigenous governance. They shared how procurement is used not just for economic growth, but for independence and community wellbeing. It was incredible to see how they embed traditional values into modern business systems.
Maa-nulth’s teachings were grounded in three core principles:
Respect for all things
Everything is connected
Take responsibility
They also spoke about how indigenous businesses across nations are collaborating in renewable energy, agriculture, and leadership particularly among youth. Their message was clear: money alone doesn’t fix anything. What truly makes a difference is good communication, strong relationships, and helping our people rise together. What stood out most to me was seeing how Māori businesses are already leading by example supporting their communities, giving back, and sustaining cultural values. As Pasifika, there’s so much we can learn from that. We have the strength and potential to do the same: to step up, share knowledge, support each other, and grow together. This experience has been more than just an event. It’s been a reminder of who we are, where we come from, and where we’re going. I’m deeply grateful to the Pacific Cooperation Foundation for this opportunity one that I will carry with me as both a blessing and a responsibility.
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