9. Question No. 9—Pacific PeoplesANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour) to the Minister for Pacific PeoplesQuestion No. 9—Pacific Peoples9. ANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour) to the Minister for Pacific Peoples: What recent work has the Government done to grow Pacific employment?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Pacific Peoples): The latest provisional figures to 30 June show that the Tupu Aotearoa programme has supported more than 1000 Pacific people into employment in the last six months and over 1400 Pacific people have transitioned into training to gain qualifications over the last 12 months. To date the ministry has 16 Tupu Aotearoa providers servicing Pacific clients from Northland to Invercargill and it is the ministry's goal to place at least 2400 Pacific people into work or in training by the end of June 2023. Tupu Aotearoa continues to transform the lives of Pacific aiga kāinga kopu tangata whānau and families with more training and employment opportunities. Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: How much has the Government invested in Tupu Aotearoa and growing the Pacific workforce? Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: This Government invested $13.9 million in Budget 2020 to expand Tupu Aotearoa's reach with a further investment of $30.3 million in Budget 2021 and $8 million in Budget 2022. This investment has taken Tupu Aotearoa from South Auckland and expanded it to the main metropolitan centres of Auckland Wellington and Christchurch and to the regional communities of Aotearoa New Zealand delivering employment and training services so that no one is left behind. Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: How does Tupu Aotearoa grow the Pacific workforce? Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: The Tupu Aotearoa programme connects Pacific people with local education training and support providers that help them access work or learning opportunities on their journey to employment with further training or study and support to high-value jobs. This ensures that Pacific people are nurtured from the beginning of their career journey to sustainable employment with business partners providing access to the right tools for skills development that aligns with future employment and educational opportunities. Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: Why has Tupu Aotearoa succeeded in growing the Pacific workforce? Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: You have the right Government in place but Tupu Aotearoa's success is due to the targeted approach of supporting Pacific communities at a regional local and cultural level offering end-to-end wraparound support and pastoral care from locally based providers in metro and regional communities using Pacific languages cultural capital and cultural intelligence as tools to build our workforce and people. We also know Tupu Aotearoa is reaching some of the most vulnerable members of our Pacific communities and is transforming their lives through pastoral care and cultural support training and employment. Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki: Has he heard any real-life success stories from Tupu Aotearoa? Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: Earlier this year I joined with local MP Terisa Ngobi and listened to the testimonies of realised hopes and dreams for the generation of young Pasifika people coming through the Tupu Aotearoa programme at the Horowhenua Learning Centre. These often shy students stood up and boldly acknowledged the valued support of Tupu Aotearoa employment consultant Tessa Feomaia of the Horowhenua Learning Centre in Levin and the Life to the Max Horowhenua team supported by the local district council. These success stories tell us that this Government is on the right path and they are why we will continue to invest in Tupu Aotearoa so that Pacific peoples aren't left behind during our economic recovery phase—[Interruption]—which often happens when that Government is in power. SPEAKER: During that question there were several interjections while the question was being made coming from that area. I don't know who it was but just a reminder not to interject while the question is being made. I said I would be fair on patsy questions and the length of the question. There is a ruling around that but I will not be influenced by people shouting out that it's a speech. The number of interjections during the answer—and I refer to a ruling from Speaker Carter—does and can extend the length of the answer. So—[Interruption] I beg your pardon? Hon Member: It's just their masks moving. SPEAKER: I don't know what that's got to do with me on my feet making this ruling but I'll just leave that there.