PMN and Police partner to strengthen Pacific community connection and visibility in NZ

Pacific Media Network (PMN) and New Zealand Police have formalised a renewed partnership to improve safety, visibility, and connection within Pasifika communities.

Superintendent Fata Willie Fanene, the Police National Partnerships Manager for Pacific Peoples, says the collaboration renews a long-standing relationship that stretches back more than 20 years.

Fanene says the ultimate goal of the partnership is to serve the community, not the institutions themselves.

“It’s not going to benefit Police or PMN, it shouldn't, it’s going to benefit our community,” he says.

Fanene says the partnership will help the Police communicate with Pacific communities, including safety messages.

“We can’t get them (messages) out unless we’ve got a platform like Pacific Media Network … especially our non-English speaking communities”

“For example, we’ve got Sāmoan and Tongan fans supporting our rugby league teams at the moment. It’s great to celebrate, but we must be mindful of others in the community.”

Fanene cited another recent example of PMN interviewing Police Commissioner Richard Chambers ahead of a trip to the Pacific earlier this year.

“He (the Commissioner) wanted to establish closer relationships with our police organisations in the Pacific, and so he wanted to put the message out there that New Zealand is there to support them in whatever needs in terms of building their capacity and capability.”

Watch Constables Esther Tiatia and Sione Fua's interview on Pacific Days below.

The partnership aligns with the Police Pacific Strategy, O Le Taeao Fou: Dawn of a New Day, which focuses on building stronger relationships, leadership, and engagement with Pacific communities across Aotearoa.

Mann says PMN and the Police have shared goals of helping Pacific people prosper in Aotearoa.

He says while PMN is proud to collaborate with Police, its journalism remains independent.

Listen to Don Mann and Superintendent Fata Willie Fanene's interviews below.

“PMN is a media entity, so we have to have journalistic integrity, and our PMN News team must operate independently. But we’re also a public good organisation.

"So outside of our journalism function, we’ve got an obligation to, just like the police, protect our community, inform our community, keep our community safe. And that’s why a relationship like this is important.”

The collaboration between PMN and New Zealand Police responds to the Pasifika Strategy - O Le Taeao Fou: Dawn of a New Day.