‘It’s more than just rugby’: New owners reveal plans to unlock Pacific sporting power

The CEO of a prominent Pacific medical provider says they are proud to help strengthen Super Rugby franchise Moana Pasifika.

The Pasifika Medical Association Group assumed ownership of the franchise, becoming one of the first health organisations to do so for a Super Rugby team.

PMA CEO Debbie Sorensen says becoming the majority shareholder of Moana Pasifika will help set up the team for lasting success.

“Coming in as the new owners, we’re able to bring the infrastructure and support that’s helpful. We have a great comms group in PMA, for our team to help and support [Moana’s]. We have a big finance group, logistics, who specialise in flying people all over [the country].

“Those sorts of things we think can add value. But more importantly, we are organisations that have the same values, about our people, community and about doing good.

“So it’s more than just rugby.”

Watch the full interview with Pasifika Medical Association CEO Debbie Sorensen here:

Sorensen, who was the former vice-chair of Moana Pasifika, said PMA has been working closely with the club since its establishment.

“It’s certainly a big move for PMA. But it is building on our sports strategy which has been in place for the last four years. It didn’t come out of the blue, what we think is that getting our people engaged in sport, increasing participation and reducing barriers of participation [will benefit our people].

“Our communities told us over the past month, over a thousand families up and down the country, they want to see sporting pathways as an option for our young people.

“We felt we could add value, we had a consistent view and vision of where it could go next. We’ve had three years of establishing the club, but now it is looking five years from now. Moving to an ongoing sustainable stage.”

One of the building blocks PMA is looking to add for Moana Pasifika is training facilities for the club.

“One of the things we’re acutely aware of is the new Lower Hutt High Performance facility that has just been opened. Here we are in South Auckland in the heart of our community, but there is not a high performance facility anywhere.

“What we can be helpful at is to look at who would like to partner in developing that facility. Certainly being in the South is a logical move. Looking forward, having a base is something we might be looking at.”

A key sign of the unique way PMA and Moana Pasifika will express their Pacific values was seen at the signing announcement for Ardie Savea.

In his first press conference as franchise’s star recruit, only Pacific media outlets, and students from Ōtāhuhu and Tamaki College were invited to ask questions of Savea, La'auli Sir Michael Jones and Fa’alogo Tana Umaga.

Sorensen said the opportunity was “amazing” for all those involved.

“The press conference was very touching, Ardie talking about family and faith. To hear him talk about that historic decision that will have an amazing impact not just for him, but for all our community.

“So we have seen an outpouring of positiveness towards the Pacific, to us as an organisation, to the media. For us, having positive Pacific stories is what we’re about. So the gift he has given us can not be measured, I feel so proud to be a small part of that.”