Based on their experiences overseas, one manufacturing worker told us: After living and working overseas for eight years and returning back home, the difference is culture. It’s good within NZ workplace but that doesn’t pay the bills. It’s like PI people have that respect in which it’s all good, but aren’t knowledgeable enough in knowing one’s worth. Not wanting to sound snobby or offend any PI. We may not have qualifications, but the skills/ experience some hold and being hard workers they need to realise it’s worth fighting for if they’re well knowledgeable in knowing their worth and what’s out there. Always been told anyone is replaceable and you won’t get that training or be able to grow if you don’t ask and show capabilities or fighting for it. Our people need to realise. It’s sad but true, it’s like a game where you don’t want to share too much skills or knowledge but need to look at oneself on how not to be replaceable and withhold but still showing profitable results. (S010) As several Pacific commentators have noted, if the Government and employers were able to understand the strength in collectivist Pacific values such as reciprocity and respect, the Pacific community would be better able to empower themselves as a collective through shared community building. Drawing on Pacific perspectives encourages community-driven solutions informed through Pacific values and strengths. Family, community and voluntary service This section relates to Pacific workers’ experience of volunteer service and community leadership that are vital parts of the cultural skills, experiences and assets that they bring and are often not recognised as useful in the workplace. The Pacific ethic of contribution and responsibility are paramount in Pacific peoples’ attitude to work. One healthcare worker told us: Our attraction to a role is because you know you can contribute. You come with that. You never think of the money first. It’s always, “Will it be a good fit for me? Can I contribute? Are my skills aligned to this role?” (T002) 46 This is supported by research that shows that such obligations and commitments carry just as much importance as providing income for Pacific families. This importance reflects Pacific values that regard the work of holding the family together as both esteemed and valuable.46 Most participants identified that they had family, community and other responsibilities in addition to their working lives. This work was unpaid, unacknowledged and unrecognised in the workplace. One person told us: I do a lot of unpaid work like being a secretary for a sports club and coordinate TAG. I’m an unpaid Board member and contribute to my community through different activities. (S156) Another said: I am aware that with great privilege comes with great responsibilities. So I am always extending and perhaps overextending myself in many other ways to help my extended family prosper, help with scholarship applications using my talents to help family and church members in the community. (S091) Some people identified that it was not only workplaces that needed to value these skills that Pacific workers bring. They felt that the workers themselves needed to see that these additional responsibilities can have a value in the workplace and could be acknowledged and remunerated. One healthcare worker related this to the need to build confidence: There is a lot to learn about our people knowing and valuing their ‘outside of work skills’ – the invisible things that often don’t get acknowledged in professional work. It’s taken me years to see how my church, local board, board of trustees involvement and helping family navigate health appointments, Mum, life, daughter, niece, Aunty etc. have all played a natural part to my professional career. I think these are points that we need to help sell ourselves and get the best dollar. Building the confidence to get that top dollar has taken me a long time. I started my professional career at the age of 21 years old and Naepi, Sereana. “Pacific Peoples, Higher Education and Feminisms.” In Decolonization and Feminisms in Global Teaching and Learning, edited by Sara de Jong, Rosalba Icaza, and Olivia Rutazibwa. Abingdon: Routledge, 2018, 11-24, https://doi. org/10.4324/9781351128988 Voices of Pacific peoples 65