Careers Aotearoa Professional

07/04/2026

We're pleased to be on LinkedIn and welcome you to join our community here.

01/04/2026

Our membership covers a wide range of writers, illustrators and industry professionals at every stage of their careers. From journalists to comic artists, scriptwriters to bloggers, novelists to games writers and translators to poets, all disciplines are welcome.

30/03/2026

📊 THE NZ LABOUR MARKET & PACIFIC PEOPLE WHY CAREER DEVELOPMENT CANNOT WAIT 🌺

The numbers are real and they matter to us.

According to Stats NZ (March 2025), the unemployment rate for Pacific people in Aotearoa sits at 10.8% more than DOUBLE the national average of 5.1%. And even as New Zealand added 15,000 jobs at the end of 2025, Pacific unemployment continued to rise.

This is not just a statistic. This is our whānau. Our community. Our future.

❌ WHY ARE PACIFIC PEOPLE BEING LEFT BEHIND?

🎓 Lower access to tertiary qualifications
🏗️ Concentrated in sectors hit hardest by economic downturns (construction, hospitality, manufacturing)
🌐 Limited professional networks and Pacific mentors in senior roles
💬 Unconscious bias and systemic barriers in hiring and promotion

These are real challenges but they are not insurmountable.

✅ WHY CAREER DEVELOPMENT IS THE SOLUTION

1️⃣ It breaks the cycle of underemployment moving our people from low-wage, part-time work into sustainable, well-paying careers.

2️⃣ It builds economic resilience for our whole whānau when one of us advances, we all rise.

3️⃣ It closes the leadership gap Pacific professionals in senior roles means Pacific voices shaping the systems that affect us.

4️⃣ Aotearoa NZ needs our talent Pacific peoples are a growing share of the working-age population. Our career advancement is not just good for us it's good for the whole nation.

💡 3 THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY:

✔️ Set a clear 3-year career goal and write it down
✔️ Identify one qualification or course that will move you forward
✔️ Reach out to a Pacific professional mentor in your field

At Careers Aotearoa Professionals, we believe every Pacific person deserves a career that reflects their ability, their ambition, and their worth.

The time to invest in your career is NOW. 💪🌊

💬 Tag someone in your community who needs to see this. Let's lift each other up.

29/03/2026

Titles don’t run companies.
Ex*****on does.

CEO sets the vision.
CFO protects the future.
COO makes it happen.

https://youtu.be/rrNcRb_l8bg

29/03/2026

🎓 Le Va 2026 Scholarship Update:
The Futures that Work Pacific Mental Health & Addictions Scholarship supports individuals of Indigenous Pacific ancestry who are studying towards careers in mental health and addictions, helping grow and upskill our Pacific workforce.

This year, we’re proud to share that 141 recipients have been awarded this scholarship, across fields including addiction, counselling, mental health, nursing, psychology, public health, and social work.

To all our successful recipients- Congratulations. 🎉 We’re excited to start working with you and see the impact you will make in our communities. 🌺

And to everyone who applied, fa’afetai tele lava and fakaaue lahi. We see and value the passion and commitment each of you brings and we wish you all the very best in your studies this year.

29/03/2026

20/03/2026

Reconnecting with past acquaintances often occurs during celebrations, highlighting the significance of divine timing.

19/03/2026

Today attended ASB Polyfest, where we networked with BCITO associates who was an ex-Careers NZ colleague, to reuniting with a childhood friend from Otara and a respected community figure.

18/03/2026

Kia ora 👋 If you receive a benefit, this update is for you.

From Wednesday 1 April, benefit rates will increase. Income and asset limits for some types of support will also increase.

We know updates like this matter, so it’s important people have clear information about what’s changing and how it affects them.

These changes affect around 1.5 million people across New Zealand who receive financial support through MSD, including around 436,000 people receiving these benefits.

They’re part of the Annual General Adjustment, which happens each year on 1 April. This is where benefit payments are reviewed and updated. The increase is always based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, which measures how the cost of living has changed over the past year.

This year, the Consumer Price Index increased by 3.11%, which is reflected in the increase to main benefit rates.

You don’t need to do anything to receive this increase. Your payment will update automatically.

If you also receive other support, such as Accommodation Supplement or Temporary Additional Support, those payments may change when your main benefit increases. The total amount you receive from us after the 1 April changes won’t be less than what you’re getting now.

From 1 April you’ll be able to check your updated payment details in MyMSD.

Find more information about the Annual General Adjustments on our website below 👇

https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/about-work-and-income/news/2026/changes-to-benefit-and-payment-rates-from-1-april-2026.html

NZ Super and Veteran’s Pension are also included in the Annual General Adjustment. You can see our recent post on those rates here 👉 https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GrH8Vxcdv/

🚨 Just a reminder, if you see other posts or websites claiming payment changes, take a moment to check where the information is coming from and confirm it with an official source.

Real changes will always be shared in places you know and trust, like the Work and Income website.

17/03/2026

Tokelauan Wisdom on Careers

17/03/2026

ASB Polyfest kicks off tomorrow!

This week, one of the most significant Pacific events in Aotearoa New Zealand hits Auckland: ASB Polyfest. Come through to experience Pacific pride, colour and culture, with four days of incredible performances from talented secondary school students.

☀️18-21 March
📍Manukau Sports Bowl, Auckland

Find all the details via ASB Polyfest