This Is Just the Beginning: The Vision Behind PaCIVICa
- PEP Team
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
A New Chapter
In this episode of Pep Talk, we shared two big updates:
Salā Marie Young is stepping into the CEO role at PaCIVICa
Purpose Empowered People (PEP) has officially evolved under its new name and direction
But this isn’t just an organisational update.
It’s the beginning of a movement.
The Vision: A Pacific Prime Minister
PaCIVICa’s long-term vision is bold: To see the first Pacific Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand within the next 20 years.
Not as a symbolic aspiration.
But as the result of deliberate pathway building.
Because Prime Ministers don’t just appear.
They come through:
School leadership
Governance roles
Civic participation
Community development
Policy exposure
PaCIVICa’s vision is “from prefect to Prime Minister”.
That means normalising leadership early — and building confidence, skill and representation over time.
How PaCIVICa Began
It started with conversations.
Seed funding.
Partnership with the Electoral Commission.
A pilot cohort in May–June 2025.
Something unexpected happened.
Instead of stepping away after the programme, the cohort stepped up.
They became the board.
Experienced professionals across:
Law
Academia
Business
Community leadership
Governance
Including Aiolupotea Ofisa Tonu’u as Board Chair — father of seven, school trustee, and experienced governance leader .
This is not symbolic leadership.
It is hands-on, community-rooted governance.
Why This Matters
Pacific communities are strong.
They are established.
They are contributors.
But representation in civic leadership spaces remains limited.
PaCIVICa exists to:
Build capability
Increase civic literacy
Create leadership pathways
Ensure Pacific voices are present at decision-making tables
Not just participants.
But leaders.
Meanwhile: Purpose Empowered People
PEP continues its broader mission.
Now officially named Purpose Empowered People, the organisation exists to serve:
Businesses
Charities
Social enterprises
Anyone with a purpose .
PEP works in three core areas:
Strategy
Systems
Story
PaCIVICa was incubated within PEP — an example of how bold ideas can be nurtured into fully-fledged organisations.
As shared in the episode:
“We are a plantation. We are a garden for beautiful ideas turning into reality.”
PaCIVICa is one of those ideas.
What Happens Next?
More programmes.
More partnerships.
More young leaders stepping forward.
The work has only just begun.
This isn’t a peak moment.
It’s a planting moment.
And the fruit will take time.
If you want to follow the journey:
Watch the full episode here.
And to find out more about PaCIVICa, visit the website, and sign up for updates.
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