Pacific Business Trust faces questions over funding decisions and wider accountability

The Pacific Business Trust (PBT) is facing questions over its funding decisions and approach to working with established Pacific business organisations.

Salā Laura Keil-Hall, founder and Chief Executive of the South Auckland-based Pacific Business Hub, is calling on the Trust to improve transparency, accountability and build genuine partnerships with community providers.

The PBT, a government-funded charitable trust established in 1985 to support Pacific business development in New Zealand, recently selected seven providers from 31 applicants for its new Pacific Business Capability Network.

The Pacific Business Hub was among the unsuccessful applicants.

But Keil-Hall insists her concerns go well beyond the decision, pointing to longstanding issues she says have persisted throughout her 15 years working in Pacific business development.

She tells PMN News it is time to speak out.

Watch Salā Laura Keil-Hall's full interview below.

"I feel like enough is enough. I've been in this space for 15 plus years and nothing has really changed in there."

However, PBT maintains it followed a fair and impartial selection process that respected privacy and public accountability, and considers the concerns resolved following direct correspondence with Keil-Hall.

The dispute became public recently after Keil-Hall issued a statement, widely shared on social media, titled Who Really Holds the Power Over Pacific Business Development in NZ?

Pacific Business Trust Chair Dr Uluomato'otua Saulaulu Aiono. Photo/PMN News composite

In it, she questions how public funding is distributed, who makes decisions affecting Pacific businesses, and whether established community providers have a meaningful voice.

Speaking to PMN News in her first media interview since releasing the statement, Keil-Hall says she has raised concerns with PBT over several years, including during her time at the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, where she managed the Trust's contract.

Her latest criticism follows changes to government-funded Pacific business support, with the former Pacific Business Village programme discontinued and responsibility shifting towards PBT following Budget 2025.

In June, Keil-Hall expressed optimism about PBT's new board and leadership, saying the Trust appeared to be "on the right path".

But she says subsequent developments have left her questioning whether meaningful change is taking place.

"Everything leading up to me making that comment was all looking positive, so I was quite hopeful.

"But what has actually happened since then is actually seeing the same thing happening over and over again from the previous leadership."

She says the Hub had been engaging with PBT in the hope of building stronger working relationships.

"We thought that they would genuinely be working with us, or at least build genuine relationships and partnerships with us."

"But when we got excluded from their network that they just procured, it kind of paints a different picture, doesn't it?"

PBT Chair Aiono cuts the ribbon at the opening of the Trust's new Manukau offices in June, which was described as a “new chapter” for the organisation. Photo/Pacific Business Trust Facebook

Keil-Hall says genuine partnerships must reflect Pacific cultural values, particularly teu le vā, the Sāmoan principle of nurturing and maintaining respectful relationships.

She argues these principles should guide how organisations work together, especially when difficult decisions are made.

She says community providers should be treated as equal partners rather than simply organisations seeking contracts.

In a statement to PMN News, PBT Chair Dr Uluomato'otua Saulaulu Aiono says the Trust values independent community hubs and remains committed to working with them to support Pacific entrepreneurs, guided by alofa and fa'aaloalo (love and respect).

Aiono says he has responded directly to Keil-Hall in two detailed letters addressing her concerns about the selection process, governance and evaluation of applicants.

Ministry for Pacific Peoples says it engages with PBT on its governance and statutory requirements, but are not involved in operational matters. Photo/MPP

"Bound by public stewardship, PBT executed a fair, neutral process respecting privacy and public accountability. Our direct exchanges resolve these matters in full."

Keil-Hall also questions the Ministry for Pacific Peoples' oversight of publicly funded business development.

She says she raised concerns about how the Trust's performance was measured, arguing that too much emphasis was placed on activities such as workshops and attendance rather than improvements in business outcomes.

She also argues that shifting responsibility for Pacific business support towards PBT has concentrated decision-making and resources within one organisation, potentially weakening established community networks.

In a statement to PMN News, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples says it contracts PBT to help Pacific businesses build their capability, but is not involved in its operational decisions.

Pacific Business Hub faces uncertain future. Photo/Pacific Business Hub Facebook

"The Ministry engages with PBT closely on its governance and statutory requirements, but we are not involved in operational matters. This is the responsibility of PBT."

Meanwhile, Keil-Hall acknowledges the Pacific Business Hub faces an uncertain future after seven years of supporting Pacific entrepreneurs.

She says the organisation is under increasing financial pressure to find other sources of funding.

"When we got that notification (from PBT), in my mind, I was like, I don't know, I think we're going to have to shut down the hub in the next month, because I just have no idea where else we could actually get some financial support."

Despite the uncertainty, Keil-Hall remains determined to continue.

"We're holding on, we're still fighting, I'm still hopeful."