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March 10, 2026
#national: Pacific Youth, Innovation and Data Reform in Focus for Minister Shane Reti
Dale Husband
Posted On March 10, 2026
Download AudioA busy week in Parliament and across the community is placing Pacific priorities, youth development and national data systems firmly on the agenda for the Government.
Pacific Peoples Minister Shane Reti is highlighting several initiatives spanning culture, technology and statistics as the Government looks to strengthen opportunities for Pacific communities while improving national data systems.
One of the immediate focuses is the upcoming ASB Polyfest, which begins in Auckland next week. The festival is widely regarded as the largest event of its kind in the world, bringing together thousands of secondary school students to celebrate Māori and Pacific culture through performance, language and identity.
The festival has grown into a major cultural event on the national calendar, drawing large crowds of whānau, schools and community groups. Alongside its cultural significance, Polyfest also has a growing economic impact through tourism, hospitality and event participation across the region.
Government support for the event reflects the wider role Polyfest plays in supporting young people’s confidence, cultural identity and educational pathways.
Alongside cultural initiatives, the Government has also announced a new programme aimed at encouraging young Pacific people to pursue careers in game design and digital development.
The initiative is designed to introduce rangatahi to creative technology sectors, including video game development, coding and digital storytelling. The programme aims to help build pathways into the fast-growing technology industry, where demand for skilled digital workers continues to increase both in New Zealand and internationally.
Success for the programme will be measured not only by participation but also by how many young Pacific people move into further training, study or employment within the technology sector.
The initiative reflects a broader push to ensure Pacific communities are represented in emerging industries such as software development, digital media and creative technology.
Meanwhile, the Government is also seeking to overhaul the way national population data is collected through new census legislation currently before Parliament.
The proposed changes aim to improve the reliability of census data following challenges experienced during recent census rounds. These include lower response rates in some communities and concerns about the accuracy of demographic information used to inform government policy and funding decisions.
The new legislation is intended to give greater flexibility in how population data is gathered, including the increased use of administrative data sources alongside traditional census collection methods.
Officials say improving data quality is critical for ensuring public services, infrastructure planning and community funding decisions are based on accurate information about New Zealand’s population.
The changes are particularly important for Māori and Pacific communities, where accurate population data helps shape policy decisions in areas such as health, housing, education and economic development.
As Parliament continues to debate the proposed legislation, the Government says the aim is to rebuild public trust in the national statistics system while ensuring the country has reliable information to guide future planning.
With major cultural events, technology initiatives and legislative reforms all unfolding at once, the week ahead highlights the growing intersection between cultural identity, economic opportunity and data in shaping the future of Pacific communities in Aotearoa.
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