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.

In a summer dedicated to growth and innovation, our Manaaki Scholars traded their holidays for hands-on experiences across industries in New Zealand, tackling challenges with fresh perspectives and leaving a lasting impact. From working on decarbonization projects in Marlborough’s iconic wine region to collaborating with small businesses on creative problem-solving, these Pacific interns demonstrated the power of diversity and adaptability in today’s economic climate. This blog reflects on their journey, the collaborative network of host employers, and the ongoing role of Pacific voices in shaping sustainable success for Aotearoa and beyond.

The Pacific Promise

This is the new narrative of the Pacific—a story of potential, promise, and power. It is not just about arriving on foreign shores; it is about thriving, leading, and shaping the very future we all share. It is about turning opportunity into outreach, knowledge into change, and inspiration into the courage to walk the paths less travelled.

For PCF, the commitment is to empower, to uplift, and to herald the Pacific as a powerhouse of ingenuity. Our scholars, our partners, and our collective future inspire us, and the world at large, to step into the dawn of a new era.