NZ Initiative Targets Pacific Youth for Tech Careers
Why this is here: The initiative seeks to fill a specific industry need—a desire for “Pacific flair” in gaming—by connecting young Pasifika people with high-paying tech jobs.
A New Zealand government initiative will offer scholarships to Pacific youth for careers in gaming and technology. The four-year ‘Game On’ program, led by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, aims to address skill shortages and create opportunities for Pacific communities. Scholarships will lead to jobs with starting salaries between $65,000 and $80,000.
The $2 million program receives equal funding from the government and industry partners. These partners include The Cause Collective, Tupu Toa, PikPok, and the New Zealand Game Developers Association. Minister for Pacific Peoples Dr Shane Reti noted the gaming industry’s rapid growth, increasing from $750 million to a projected $1 billion this year.
In South Auckland, the South Auckland Creative and Tech Hub is preparing young people for these opportunities. The hub currently addresses the underrepresentation of Pasifika people in technology, who make up only 4.4 percent of the sector. The first cohort of the ‘Game On’ program will begin in July.