WELCOME TO
VAKA PASIFIKA

Are you a Pasifika business owner? Based outside of Auckland?
Malo and welcome to the Vaka Pasifika Accelerator!

LET’S LEVEL UP YOUR
PASIFIKA BUSINESS

We’re bringing you online content and support to help you take your business to the next level – whether you’re selling at the local mākete or already going global.

It’s free, you can do it all online, and you can get support from experts when you need it. Plus, you could win a share of $25,000 along the way!

WHAT DO YOU GET OUT OF IT?

  • Join other Pasifika business owners to learn about business.
  • Connect with experts when you need them.
  • Get $1,000 to spend on digital and productivity tools. 
  • Score mobile & broadband deals from our mates at 2degrees.
  • Be in to win $5,000 just for signing up.
  • Complete the modules for more chances to win $5,000.

HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

LET’S TALK ABOUT MONEY

Straight out of the gate, you’ll learn everything they didn’t teach you at school about money.

We’ll take you through:

  • The basics (and the details) of accounting and tax, and how it works in practice
  • Apps that can do a lot of the hard mahi for you
  • How to manage your finances
  • How to price what you do

THE POWER OF SELLING ONLINE

Even your auntie is buying online! So we’ll help you make
the most of selling online.

We’ll walk you through:

  • Website builders like Shopify
  • Apps that make selling online even easier
  • The power of text and email marketing 

TOOLS TO SAVE YOU TIME

We’ll hook you up with $1,000 to spend on digital and productivity tools. Plus, we’ll show you how to use them.

You’ll learn about using digital tools to:

  • Manage your time and automate your work
  • Store and share information with your team and customers
  • Manage projects and give your customers great service 

HOW TO HYPE YOUR BUSINESS

There’s a time and a place for being humble, but this isn’t it. We’ll teach you how to show off your business.

Learn how to:

  • Write a “one-pager” about your business
  • How to pitch your business for contracts 

SHARE YOUR BRAND WITH THE WORLD

Brands aren’t just for massive companies with huge budgets. In fact, you’ve got a brand already! 

We’ll show you how to:

  • Make your brand as powerful as Apple or Nike
  • Create thumb-stopping content
  • Promote your business on a budget  

OUR VAKA PASIFIKA WINNERS

FOUR SHELLS KAVA
& MMB BUILDERS

Last year, we gave $10,000 cash and a whole lot of support to the owners of two Pasifika businesses. It made such a massive impact that we wanted to offer that support to you too. Watch their stories right here!

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

The course starts on May 18 and runs for 12 weeks. 

We know that your spare time is a luxury! But we really recommend that you spend up to 2 hours a day, Mon-Fri, working through the curriculum and taking part in our online workshops and webinars.

It’s going to stretch and challenge you, but it’ll be worth it!

HERE'S HOW TO GET STARTED

WE'LL SHOW YOU HOW TO SIGN UP TO THE VAKA PASIFIKA ACCELERATOR.

ONE OF OUR GUIDES WILL GET IN TOUCH.

APPLY NOW

THE TEAM

FAQs

Our Vaka Pasifika Accelerator is for Pasifika business owners based outside of Auckland.

Yes! Learn through online videos and online guest speaker workshops, and jump into our two 30 minute online hui every week.
Plus, chat to our subject matter experts inside the Manaaki community.

Want some real human interaction? We’ve got you! We’ll also host in-person catch-ups across the country so you can meet our
team and other Pasifika small business owners near you.

The course starts on May 18 and runs for 12 weeks. We know that your spare time is a luxury! But we really recommend that you spend up to 2 hours a day, Mon-Fri, working through the curriculum and taking part in our online workshops and webinars. It’s going to stretch and challenge you, but it’ll be worth it!

We’re not going anywhere! You’re part of the Vaka Pasifika and Manaaki aiga, so our community, mentors and experts are always here to support – wherever you are on your journey.

Manaaki will be delivering the programme with the support of their killer network. Manaaki is known for supporting small business owners through the challenges and opportunities of owning a business. Since it launched in March 2020, over 300,000 Kiwis have interacted with content on the platform, or received answers to their questions from Kiwi business experts.

The Ministry of Pacific Peoples has provided the funding that will allow the training and grants for 50 Pasifika businesses. The Ministry for Pacific Peoples is the principal advisor on policies and interventions that improve outcomes for Pacific Peoples.

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