Context

PEP partnered with the Ministry of Education to support Pacific early learning services — including Samoan, Tongan, and Cook Islands centres — to strengthen governance capability and meet Governance, Management and Administration (GMA) requirements.

These centres play a dual role: operating as regulated education providers while also sustaining Pacific languages and cultural identity, sometimes for communities with only small global speaker populations.

The Challenge

Leaders were navigating significant governance complexity, balancing cultural stewardship, community expectations, and compliance across more than a dozen regulatory requirements. Many governance roles were carried out voluntarily, placing additional pressure on leaders already carrying significant responsibility.

Centres needed practical support to clarify governance roles, understand compliance expectations, and translate regulatory requirements into workable governance practice.

Our role

PEP worked as a governance capability partner, supporting boards and leaders to strengthen governance understanding, clarify responsibilities, and build confidence navigating regulatory environments.

The work

PEP’s approach focused first on listening and understanding the specific context of each centre before delivering tailored governance support. This work focused on:

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• Clarifying governance and management boundaries

• Strengthening board decision-making capability

• Translating GMA requirements into practical governance actions

• Supporting sustainable governance practices

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This work also contributed to Salā Marie Young’s doctoral research into Indigenous governance and sustainability in Pacific early learning environments.

Outcome

Over five years, PEP has supported dozens of Pacific early learning services to strengthen governance capability and better understand compliance expectations. Leaders reported greater clarity about governance responsibilities and increased confidence engaging with regulatory processes.

Why it matters

This work highlights the often unseen governance labour carried by Pacific community leaders who sustain language, culture, and education simultaneously. PEP’s contribution focuses on strengthening governance capability so these organisations can remain compliant while continuing their cultural and educational mission.