Tāmaki Makaurau is home to more than 300-thousand Pacific people.

Samoan, Cook Islands Māori, Tongan, Niuean, Fijian, Tokelauan, Tuvaluan, and I-Kiribati are the eight larger Pacific ethnic groups. Tāmaki Makaurau is also home to Hawaiians, Solomon Islanders, Ni-Vanuatu, Papua New Guineans, Uvean, Rotuman, and people from French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Norfolk, Nauru and Pitcairn Islands. Not all people who whakapapa to the Moana identify with these terms.

We acknowledge that we are on indigenous land and share whakapapa with Tangata Whenua. In August 2023, the Pacific People’s Climate Action Project began as a collaboration between Pacific Vision Aotearoa, Rākau Tautoko and LAKA. It was in response to Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri - Auckland’s Climate Action Plan. All three entities have substantial working experience with Pacific and Māori knowledge, and as a result the project accessed a variety of indigenous tools.

The project identified Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri Auckland’s Climate Plan was not fit for Pacific communities in Tāmaki Makaurau. This plan mentioned “Pacific” and “Pasifika” in the sections focused on “Maori” in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Tangata whenua and Mana whenua must be acknowledged when making citywide plans, and all demographics, including Pacific people, must be considered too. While Māori and Pacific communities share whakapapa and similarities in world view, there are disparities and varying needs between each group and the communities within them. The project was renamed MANAVA for Climate Resilience in December 2023 after the completion of its report ‘Manava for Climate Resilience 2023’ which detailed the project’s monthly Manava series of meetings from August to December 2023.

MANAVA for Climate Resilience's projects have been supported by Auckland Council, including this website. We acknowledge the commitment of Auckland Council to support the inclusion of Pacific voices in its climate action.