Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) continues to evolve against the backdrop of a rapidly changing media landscape, and part of its growth is extending its ohana to include North Pacific.
Strategic Communications Manager at PCBL, Michelle Curran, recently travelled to Hawai’i to foster new partnerships with stakeholders including the New Zealand Consulate-General in Honolulu, 4 Mile Production LLC, Emerita Professor Ann Auman and Co-founder of Pacific Media Institute Floyd Takeuchi.
“The visit was to get a sense of the lay of the land in the North Pacific, an area within our region which is rich in history, culture, and has had its fair share of challenges including the impacts of both war and climate change, food, nutrition and water security challenges,” Michelle says.
“Having met with various stakeholders who work in the North Pacific, there is a real desire for our Pacific brothers and sisters in the area to feel less isolated, and to interact more with Pacific media counter-parts from the rest of the region.”
Aotearoa New Zealand is committed to building deeper connections with the North Pacific, acknowledging the likeminded views on issues of key concern and the importance of regional solidarity.
Sam O’Brien is a Policy Advisor at the New Zealand Consulate-General in Honolulu, (which also serves as the Embassy to the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau), and he works closely with these three island nations.
He says the Consulate undertakes regular dialogue with its partners to ensure New Zealand’s increased development assistance supports the North Pacific countries’ respective national development priorities.
Aotearoa also supports the communities in Palau, FSM and RMI through small scale projects funded by the North Pacific Development Fund and the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships..
Meanwhile, Erin Sampson, Deputy Consul-General in Honolulu says the Consulate hosts two key events – Waitangi Day and Anzac Day – as well as supporting Kiwis in need of consular assistance in the US state, or North Pacific.
Michelle says her meetings with Dawn Kaniaupio and Ruben Carillo from 4 Mile Productions LLC and Emerita Professor Auman and Floyd from PMI proved extremely helpful, as PCBL looks to build local connections in the North Pacific in what is an exciting new chapter for the organisation.
“Initially, PCBL’s role in the North Pacific would range from training and upskilling broadcasters, to providing a platform to share local content and connecting broadcasters to the media network across the greater Pacific region,” she adds.
“The PCBL team prides itself on ensuring local partners lead the way in their respective regions, while our main role is to support building capacity, capability and more importantly bringing media together in the Pacific region with a shared vision.”
