The CEO of JNP Aviation has said the company is on a mission to improve industry representation of Pacific people in New Zealand.
“It’s all about trying to keep these young rangatahi and Pasifika inspired,” Josh Godsmark Payne said, speaking to PMN Niue.
“We do that by reaching out to all of these other organisations because we actually have a really good name in the industry.
“Everybody is out there to help support us. So we are looking at all ways to grow our representation out on that tarmac and in that cockpit.”
Pacific people account for 11% of the aviation and airport services industry and 7% of the total economy and Ringa Hora sectors, according to New Zealand’s Workforce Development Council for the services sector.
Payne founded JNP Aviation to empower Pacific people in aviation.
The aviation company provides ground and cargo handling, passenger services and airport management and security across New Zealand.
It also has a dedicated training branch, JNP Aviation Training (JNPAT), which offers education pathways aimed at increasing representation of Pacific and Māori people within New Zealand’s aviation industry.
JNPAT equips around 200 students annually through its gateway programmes, teaching a range of aviation skills, from ramp and check-in procedures to piloting, says Payne.
The scheme is funded by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Development and Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
