When Papua New Guinean scholar Jessica Magala stepped into the Ministry for Pacific Peoples for her summer internship, she expected to learn about policy. What she didn’t expect was how deeply the experience would shape her confidence, her sense of belonging, and her understanding of Aotearoa’s public sector.

Working within the Operations team, Jessica contributed to a ministerial project exploring how Pacific education providers could engage with micro‑credentials — an emerging area of innovation in tertiary learning. She researched, drafted memos, and supported policy conversations that directly influence Pacific communities.

One of the defining moments of her internship came when she shared her billum weaving with international visitors from the World Crafts Council, connecting culture, creativity, and diplomacy in a way that felt both natural and deeply meaningful.

🌟 Celebrating Access & Identity: Our Partnership with the Auckland Arts Festival 🎭

PCF partners with the Auckland Arts Festival, ensuring that our Manaaki Scholars and Alumni have access to world-class Pacific and Indigenous performances right here in Aotearoa.

Through this partnership, sponsored tickets remove financial and accessibility barriers, allowing our scholars to experience the power of storytelling, dance, and music—fostering deeper cultural connections, expanding their networks, and enriching their time in New Zealand.

This is the first of many opportunities for our Mana Wantaim network, strengthening identity, deepening relationships, and amplifying Pacific voices.

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.

Xmas Greetings from the Team at Pacific Cooperation Foundation.