Otago pilot delivers digital skills boost for Pacific workers

A government pilot programme in Otago aims to address training access barriers faced by rural and Pacific workers, particularly amidst local manufacturing downsizing.

The initiative, known as Project Fetu, has been developed as a partnership between the Oamaru Pacific Island Trust and the Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development Council, focusing on the manufacturing, engineering, and logistics sectors in the Waitaki region.

Regional impact

The programme arrives at a time when several major employers in regional towns have cut jobs, creating uncertainty for communities reliant on single industries. Pacific families, concentrated in towns like Oamaru, are among those most affected by these changes.

Project Fetu delivers NZQA-recognised digital skills training tailored to the needs of Pacific and rural learners. The six-week micro-credential course, delivered at the Oamaru Pacific Island Trust Learning Hub, was co-designed with Pacific participants and will be taught by educators brought from Auckland. The model is underpinned by cultural support networks and workplace engagement.

Demographic data

Government statistics highlight the challenge facing Pacific communities. While Pacific peoples make up approximately 9% of the New Zealand population, they represent around 12% of those on Jobseeker Support. Pacific youth in the NEET (not in employment, education, or training) category increased from 15.9% in 2023 to 19.9% in 2024, nearly double the national rate of 11.3%. More than half of Pacific people in New Zealand are under 30, but only 65% of Pacific students achieve NCEA Level 2, compared with the national average of 73%, and just 18% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 37% nationally. Unemployment and underutilisation rates for Pacific peoples stand at 10% and 18%, compared with national rates of 5% and 12% respectively.

Tackling barriers

"Traditional training pathways are often inaccessible due to cost, distance or time. Project Fetu is about creating hybrid, community-based ways of learning that meet people where they are, not just for Pacific people but for those in rural areas too.

Mata'aga Hana Fanene-Taiti, Chief Executive of the Oamaru Pacific Island Trust and Deputy Mayor of Waitaki, said that many Pacific workers migrate to New Zealand with substantial work experience but often no formal qualifications. The project's name, Fetu (meaning 'star' in Gagana Samoa), pays homage to historic Pacific navigators and symbolises new trajectories for workers.

Fanene-Taiti added,

"The initiative allows us to provide alternative hybrid ways of upskilling members in our community, especially from a rural perspective. We don't have tertiary providers here, so this highlights the demand and the need from the regions, but also a different way of teaching and learning that could benefit others too.

"I think there's a different way of learning for Pacific people. We're quite eclectic learners. We listen and we learn by feeling, by using all of our senses, not necessarily in a traditional classroom setting,"

Local rural economies face particular pressure. Fanene-Taiti noted,

"It's unstable and pretty volatile at the moment, which highlights the urgent need we have for diversification. We want to provide other pathway opportunities for our Pacific community and others who are working in the primary sector to consider alternative industries."

"For some, this micro-credential could open the door to new roles in construction or manufacturing. For others, it's a chance to step up into supervisory or managerial positions, roles Pacific workers have historically struggled to access,"

The course is designed with entire families in mind. Learners' families will be invited to the graduation ceremony, and Fanene-Taiti said,

"Gold standard for us is seeing all ten learners walk across the stage to receive a certificate with their families watching. Some of them have never received a qualification before. When their kids see that success, it becomes normalised. They think, 'If Dad can do it, I can too.' That's the intergenerational impact we want,"

Workforce development

Phil Alexander-Crawford, Chief Executive of Hanga-Aro-Rau, said the programme's co-design approach and real-time adaptability distinguish it from conventional training offerings. He said,

"The Pacific workforce is growing and younger, and ensuring a sustainable pipeline is critical, particularly in regions where a single business closure can have wide-reaching impacts. Delivering training in culturally appropriate ways will ensure we get the best out of learners enabling them to immediately contribute to the workforce.

"There is also an issue of visibility. Too often people are unaware of the manufacturing sector and the variety of careers it offers, let alone the educational pathways that lead into these roles. The digital manufacturing education pilot is about changing that narrative and putting the sector firmly on the jobs map.

"We see Project Fetu as a proof of concept for the rest of New Zealand. If it succeeds in Waitaki, it will show that community-led, culturally responsive workforce development can be scaled to other regions. That is how we begin to close the gaps for Pacific peoples while strengthening industry capability across the country,"

Wider ambitions

Fanene-Taiti said the hope is for the pilot to inspire similar models throughout Aotearoa. She stated,

"We have to create innovative ways of bringing education to the regions, ways that are relevant, successful, and impactful. This programme is an excellent example of community, the education sector and industry coming together to solve a problem and create an innovative solution for our people in our region. We would love to see this approach of collaboration scaled across the country.

"This is about social return as much as financial return. It's about building confidence, creating role models, and strengthening our communities so the next generation can thrive,"