We welcome the independent review initiated by Te Puni Kōkiri and are fully cooperating, consistent with our ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and public trust. To safeguard the integrity of that process and the vital work we deliver in Pacific communities, it is critical that the review is allowed to run its course, not overtaken by speculation or incomplete commentary.

The Pasifika Medical Association Group, including Pasifika Futures Ltd, is a registered charitable organisation guided by clear values, transparent decision-making and independent oversight. We operate within established legal and ethical frameworks, undergo regular independent audits, and disclose all related-party transactions in line with financial reporting standards and sector expectations.

We take the privacy of our people and the confidentiality of our commercial relationships seriously. We do not comment on individual employment matters or specific contracting arrangements, and we reject any inference that employment or contracting decisions have been made for inappropriate reasons or outside proper process.

In a close-knit community, professional and familial ties often intersect. That’s why we have clear governance policies to manage conflicts of interest in line with the formal obligations that apply to a registered charity, including employment and contracting matters, with a focus on integrity, impact and service.

All actual or potential conflicts, including family relationships, are declared and managed in accordance with these policies. The person involved is excluded from any related discussions or decisions. Individual disclosures are reviewed every eight weeks, aligned with board meetings and agenda items. Board and executive members update their registers on this cycle, and all conflict management actions, including exclusions, are formally recorded in the minutes.

All staff appointments follow a documented recruitment and approval process. Procurement and contracting decisions are subject to formal processes and assessed against criteria such as value, impact and delivery track record.

Moana Pasifika

Moana Pasifika became part of the Pasifika Medical Association Group (PMA) on 1 July 2024. At that time, the Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust was formally established to hold both the professional rugby team and the Moana Pasifika Community Sports Programme.

Moana Pasifika has always been more than a rugby team. From the outset, it was established as a platform for social good and long-term transformation for Pacific people. That founding purpose made it a natural strategic fit for PMA, which recognised the opportunity to strengthen and expand Moana Pasifika’s reach. With that alignment of values and mission, PMA invested to optimise the organisation’s positive impact, capability and connection to Pacific communities.

In 2021, a small amount of funding was provided to the Pacific Business Trust to support the development of a business case for the establishment of the Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust. This was consistent with broader support for Pacific-owned and delivered initiatives under the economic domain of Pasifika Futures.

Since that time, any public or Whānau Ora funding has been directed solely to the Moana Pasifika Community Sports Programme. No public funding has been used to support the professional rugby team.

The Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust holds a Super Rugby franchise licence issued by NZ Rugby. The professional rugby team operates independently of public funding. The team is funded through commercial rugby revenue streams, including:

• NZ Rugby

• World Rugby

• Broadcast revenue (e.g. Sky)

Since the franchise was brought in-house, PMA has also provided internal financial support. None of this support has come from Whānau Ora or other public funding sources. PMA generates its own income and is not reliant solely on government funding. It has built significant equity over 28 years, including savings and a property portfolio. This financial strength has enabled it to support the franchise without drawing on public money.

Our investment decisions - including those relating to sport and youth development - are shaped by evidence and consultation. During the COVID-19 period, and again through formal consultations in 2024 involving Pacific families across multiple regions, sport and physical activity were identified as priority areas for investment linked to improved health outcomes, youth development and long-term wellbeing. The benefits of investing in community sport programmes are well documented - with a return of $12 for every $1 invested, through increased health, educational engagement and future employment outcomes.

Since joining PMA, Moana Pasifika has increased its focus on community impact - evolving from a professional sports team into a broader platform for sport, connection and social purpose. While its community ethos has always been present, this aspect has been deliberately strengthened and expanded under PMA’s stewardship.

The Community Sports Programme was developed in response to community demand for greater investment in sport and youth wellbeing. It includes programmes across multiple codes such as rowing, netball and tennis, and initiatives supporting young men’s wellbeing and young women’s leadership in sport. The programme is now fully operational and financially sustainable.

Moana Pasifika’s reach extends well beyond the field. Its Community Sports Programme delivers initiatives across Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, including school outreach, grassroots sports development, mentoring and youth leadership. A core focus is reducing barriers to participation in sport and physical activity, with lasting wellbeing benefits for Pacific families and communities.

Moana Pasifika is a celebration of identity, resilience and potential. Sport has long been a wave that carries Pasifika people forward - into education, enterprise, leadership and service. As both a team and a movement, Moana Pasifika exists to lift up our people and strengthen our communities.

For 28 years, The Pasifika Medical Association has supported thousands of Pacific families through health, education and wellbeing programmes - grounded in cultural connection, service and measurable outcomes. That legacy continues to shape the way we work, the partnerships we build and the outcomes we seek. We remain deeply focused on improving long-term health and wellbeing across Aotearoa - guided by Pacific values, trusted by our communities and driven by real need.

We reiterate that we welcome scrutiny - but it must be informed, balanced and grounded in fact. We stand by the integrity of our decisions, the strength of our governance and the value of our work across Aotearoa.

For media enquiries: 
Kate Walsh
E: kate@katewalsh.co.nz
M: 021 858 619