Total Mean Individual Net Wealth - By Ethnic Group Other Asian Pacific Maori European $ $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $350,000 $400,000 $450,000 Figure 7: Mean individual net wealth by ethnic groups in Aotearoa New Zealand81 industries where Pacific women were concentrated. In addition, the Committee for the Rights of the Child recommended that disparities in minimum standards of living for Pacific families be addressed.82 Business Growing and developing businesses has been long understood by Pacific peoples as a way to build family and community asset bases, while providing products and services delivered in ways that understand what Pacific customers want. Due to the lack of ethnic data collected through company registrations or company tax returns, a clear number of Pacific companies does not exist. The Pacific Business Trust (PBT) was established (as the Pacific Islands Business Development Trust) in 1985 to deliver business development seminars and courses to people from Pacific communities. Since 1985, the PBT has received government funding for its services.83 The PBT also acted as a funding provider, offering business start-up or development loans of up to $100,000.84 However, according to its 2008 annual reports, the PBT had ceased lending money to small Pacific businesses. 81 82 83 84 85 24 Pasefika Proud and the New Zealand Institute for Economic Research surveyed 252 Pacific small business owners, and found that 57 percent of business owners were self-employed, and a further 24 percent had between one and five employees. Through its consultations in communities, the Commission notes that business owners and potential business owners are lacking access to capital for start-ups and working capital to improve cashflow while businesses become established. The Commission acknowledges that government and commercial sector procurement practices are not supporting Pacific businesses to have equitable access to markets and opportunities. However, the Commission also welcomes the Government’s recent announcement in September 2020, that it has agreed to change the procurement rules so that 138 departments and agencies must consider how they can create quality jobs, particularly for displaced workers and traditionally disadvantaged groups such as Māori, Pacific, disabled and women, in the procurement process.85 Statistics New Zealand, 2018. Household net worth statistics, Year ended June 2018, accessed at https://www.stats. govt.nz/information-releases/household-net-worth-statistics-year-ended-june-2018#:~:text=For%20the%20year%20 ended%20June,of%20total%20household%20net%20worth. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Concluding observations on the eighth periodic report of New Zealand 2018 CEDAW/C/NZL/CO/8. Katavake-McGrath (2015): Their Worldview and Ours: an exploratory study into Pacific peoples, as seen in New Zealand government policies, 1998-2013. Pacific Business Trust Annual Report, 2006. See more: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/procurement-promote-jobs-m%C4%81ori-and-pasifika-businessesand-sustainability. Talanoa: Human rights issues for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand