Lifting the financial capability of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa
Vaka Tautua has rolled out its award-winning financial capability programme – Tupe Wise – to a rapidly growing number of cohorts around the country this year. Otago is the latest region to benefit from the programme, which seeks to increase the financial literacy and knowledge of Pacific families in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Families from the Dunedin Agape International Ministry Church, Vaka Tautua’s first Otago Tupe Wise group.
The first Tupe Wise session in Dunedin was held on May 29, with several families from the Dunedin Agape International Ministry Church excited to join the programme, ready to start on their journey towards financial independence.
The Tupe Wise programme is also being delivered in the Canterbury region for the first time this year, and participants are already seeing improvements for their families.
Turi Lam Sam, a Samoan father of five, said, “The course is great – it has helped give me more ideas for saving and planning for my family’s future. My goal is to get rid of all debt and buy a house. Now, as a family, we are finally able to start a savings account.”
Student and part-time café worker, Luse Foi, shared, “I am finding Tupe Wise very helpful. Now I know more about money and saving, and I've learnt how to get help when struggling. I'm still young, so I can sort out my financial future and use what I've been taught on this course to be wiser with my money for future spending.”
Tino Vanilau, who is retired, has learned some new tips, saying, “The programme is very good. Tupe Wise has taught me a lot of things, like consumer’s rights, credit ratings, and rights in general! I’m learning to budget my money to save for a trip, and to focus my spending on my needs rather than my wants.”
The Auckland region has seen four Tupe Wise cohorts graduate since the start of the year. Mother of six, Seini, enjoyed having the programme delivered in her Tongan language, making it easier for her to understand. Her children are now learning to appreciate home cooking instead of takeaways and treats from the dairy, and setting up automatic bill payments has helped Seini manage her money better.
Gloria Viliamu, a member of the Samoan cohort from Peace Chapel Christian Fellowship Mangere, said, “I came into the programme with a couple of goals – one was to be debt free at the end of the year. I am glad to say with everything we have learnt from Tupe Wise, my husband has cleared his debt and I’ll be debt free in the next couple of months.”
Since graduating from Tupe Wise in May, young parents Mele and Fatai feel more confident and in control of their finances. They are excited about the possibility of buying a family home, setting in place a budget and increasing their KiwiSaver contributions to achieve that dream. The couple plans to enrol in Tupe Wise 2, Vaka Tautua’s advanced programme, to take their newfound financial knowledge to the next level.
Learn more about Vaka Tautua’s Tupe Wise: Financial Capability Services
