Yavu is the Pacific engagement tool to support anyone who works in local and central government, and the private sector who is required to engage with Pacific communities. Yavu can be used to support a range of initiatives, policies and decision-making where Pacific people will be affected directly or indirectly.
‘Yavu’ is the Fijian translation for ‘foundation’. Derived from ‘Yavusa’, it refers to one’s origin and ancestral roots to the ancestral land for the greater family.
Check out Yavu – Foundations for Pacific Engagement Tool:
Yavu Cultural Practices and Protocols Sheets
Take the Yavu eLearning module
Yavu provides guidance on how to engage with our Pacific communities in a way that is more meaningful and relevant. These guidelines are a refreshed version of the 2006 Pacific Consultation Guidelines.
The journey of Pacific peoples to Aotearoa New Zealand has evolved from a story of migration to include a new chapter that recognises the contribution and influence we have on modern Aotearoa New Zealand society.
In much the same way, the refreshed guidelines have progressed from a consultative approach to a more inclusive and reciprocal approach, underpinned by our common Pacific values. Key to authentic engagement is understanding our values and how they are integral to everything Pacific peoples do.
Yavu is intended to inform those engaging with Pacific peoples. Yavu can be used by the public and private sectors, and individuals or groups wanting to connect with Pacific communities on initiatives, programmes and policies that may impact them. This framework can be used on its own or with the Ministry’s Kapasa Pacific Policy Analysis Tool.
The Yavu tool works by applying four principles to the generic engagement process:
These four principles can be applied at each step of the engagement process with Pacific communities and are further supported with a checklist and guide for what each principle looks like in practice.
Check out Yavu - Foundations of Pacific Engagement Tool:
Yavu can be used by anyone who works in local and central government, and the private sector who is required to engage with Pacific communities, including:
Yavu can be used whenever you are engaging with Pacific peoples. The four broad principles of Yavu can be applied at each step of the engagement process. It does not alter the general engagement steps but is designed to overlay it with a culturally responsive approach.
Yavu can be used to support a range of initiatives, policies and decision-making where Pacific people will be affected directly or indirectly including:
Effective engagement with Pacific peoples involves creating strong and sustainable relationships. This involves a significant investment from the outset. It should not be treated as a ‘one-off transaction’.
Ensuring Pacific peoples’ voices are heard and incorporated in each step of the engagement phase is essential. Yavu outlines broad principles on how to do this.
The diversity and unique characteristics of Pacific peoples, coupled with the disparities experienced in education, employment, home ownership and health, pose a real challenge in how Government formulates and implements policy to improve Pacific outcomes.
Genuine engagement is realised, and policy development optimised, when the values, needs and aspirations of Pacific communities are considered throughout the policy process.
The engagement stage is an important element in the Ministry’s Kapasa Pacific Policy Analysis Tool which Yavu provides. These guidelines complement Kapasa, but equally it can be used on its own to set a foundation for meaningful engagement.