Introducing the PaCIVICa Civic Leadership Course
- PEP Team
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
Pasifika people are the future of Aotearoa NZ. By 2038, Pasifika people will make up 10% of this country’s population. In our largest city, Tamaki Makaurau Auckland, the number is already 18.7% and set to grow.
But where are our civic leaders?
Why are our local boards, council wards and electorates not led by Pacific people - yet?
PaCIVICa is a politically neutral course for those who want to step up and represent our people in civic leadership. This pilot course (beginning May 6th) is two hours a week for six weeks, in person, and creates a safe learning space for those who are ready to commit.
Course Overview
PaCIVICa is a course for Pacific people of any age who are serious about civic leadership - whether that means running for local board or city council, or gearing up to be an MP in the 2026 general election.
It’s designed to be fun, inspiring, and grounded in Pacific values. The course starts by helping you connect with others in your group, understand your “why,” and build confidence.
You’ll learn how local government works, how elections run, and what’s involved in campaigning. There are sessions on sharing your story, planning your campaign, fundraising, connecting with your community, and staying strong when things get tough.
You’ll hear the stories of real Pasifika leaders, practise your public speaking, and finish the course by presenting your own vision to friends and whānau at a graduation celebration. It’s hands-on, full of real talk, and built for our people.
What can you expect from PaCIVICa
A cohort with the same passion for serving our communities
A culturally and psychologically safe environment to learn and try new things
A politically neutral unbiased viewpoint, because we know leaders come in all persuasions
A certificate of completion, but more importantly
...lived experience practicing putting your message together and delivering it
A personalised plan of action for your civic leadership journey
Why we made PaCIVICa free
Early on we made the decision to make PaCIVICa freely available, so it's accessible to everyone, no matter what their financial situation. To date we've had a small seed investment from the Electoral Commission for which we've been very grateful; the rest has been self-funded by PEP. If you're interested in helping to fund the future of PaCIVICa, please get in touch.
Our first pilot: May 6th - June 10th
Our first course begins on Tuesday, May 6th at 6pm in Avondale, Auckland. Sign up to register, or get on the waitlist to learn about future PaCIVICa sessions.
Our big WHY
Tamaki Makaurau Auckland is the city with the world's largest Pacific population, and yet our local boards and councils don't represent that diversity - yet.
With Pasifika populations growing at a faster rate than the rest of the population, that representation becomes even more important with the passing of time. We believe it won't just happen, that a bridge must be built between the systems of the status quo and the cultural diversity of the emerging future. PaCIVICa is our attempt to build that bridge.
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