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Breaking Barriers: A Pasifika Family’s Path to Home Ownership

Find out about the positive impact of financial literacy on the Tamani family and how they are now empowered and thriving in their own home.

The Tamani matavuvale in front of their new house and white picket fence.

The journey of the Nanise Tamani family is a remarkable story of transformation, resilience, and success. Through the support of K’aute Pasifika, they have navigated financial challenges, embraced long-term planning, and achieved milestones that once seemed out of reach.

This family have now overcome significant financial barriers to secure homeownership and advance their children’s education and careers, and this progress highlights the power of community support and financial literacy. Their story serves as an inspiration to other Pasifika families striving for a better future.

Challenges Faced

One of the most significant challenges the family of six faced was overcoming the Pasifika mindset that often perceives goals like homeownership and financial success as out of reach. The rising cost of living and unexpected expenses made it difficult to maintain financial discipline and focus on long-term aspirations.

“There were times when we felt like giving up because things seemed too hard, and unexpected expenses kept setting us back. It was frustrating, but we knew we had to keep trying,” says Nanise Tamani.

Their cultural responsibility to support extended family overseas added further financial strain, as they regularly sent remittances and provided accommodation for relatives seeking better opportunities in New Zealand. Additionally, their children’s active involvement in sports resulted in high costs, including sports fees and injury-related expenses, which the family was unwilling to sacrifice due to the children’s passion and commitment.

“Our kids’ sports mean everything to them. We couldn’t just stop supporting their dreams, even when it felt like we had to choose between financial stability and their future,” says Nanise.

A lack of awareness about available support services and entitlements also posed a challenge. As Pasifika, they initially stayed within familiar circles, which limited their exposure to financial literacy programmes and resources that could help them navigate these difficulties.

Enabling Financial Success and Stability

The family received direct support from K’aute Pasifika’s Family Navigator, Foa Samuelu, along with financial guidance from Theresa Alaimoana, K’aute Pasifika’s Financial Advisor. The key areas of support included:

  • Increasing Awareness of Support Services: The family was introduced to various community resources and entitlements they were eligible for, which helped alleviate some of their financial burdens.
  • Encouraging Long-Term Planning: With consistent follow-ups and encouragement, they embraced a more structured approach to financial management, including setting both short-term and long-term goals.
  • Improving Financial Literacy: They were guided through budgeting, saving strategies, and financial planning techniques that helped them understand how to work towards homeownership and financial independence.
  • Enhancing Access to Basic Health Care and Education: Support was provided to ensure their children’s aspirations were nurtured, including assisting with university and career pathway planning.

“Having someone believe in us made all the difference. When we felt lost or overwhelmed, K’aute Pasifika was there to remind us of what we were working towards,” says Nanise.

By adopting a more westernised approach to financial planning — while still honouring their cultural values — the family started seeing tangible progress. They learned that without a plan, they were essentially planning to fail, and through disciplined goal setting, they steadily worked towards financial stability.

Outcomes and Impact

Through dedicated effort and ongoing support, the family achieved significant milestones:

  • Grace, their eldest daughter, has been successfully accepted into the 2025 Police College intake and is set to obtain her full driver’s license next month.
  • Milika, their second daughter, was accepted into the University of Waikato and completed a successful tenure at Hamilton Girls’ High, where she held several leadership roles.
  • The family has now become homeowners, securing a property in Te Kuiti, a remarkable achievement that once felt unattainable.

“We never thought homeownership was possible for us. The process was daunting, and after being told ‘no’ a few times, we almost gave up. But having the right guidance helped us see that it was achievable,” says Nanise.

They now plan to continue leveraging their community connections, enhancing their financial literacy, and setting further goals aimed at improving their family’s future.

Personal Reflections from the Family

“It was a long journey. We originally found out about K’aute Pasifika through our children in the Power Up programme. Once we were connected with Whānau Ora, we started seeing opportunities that were available to us.

After being told that we weren’t ready for homeownership a couple of times, we felt disheartened. But through persistence and support, we kept moving forward.

Seeing the benefits of taking risks and stepping out of our comfort zone has been eye-opening. We’ve realised that being ashamed to reach out for help won’t get us anywhere.

Prayer without action kept us stagnant.

Financial literacy is very important — it’s a skill that all Pasifika families need to learn so we can achieve our goals. We can still succeed and get ahead while staying true to our cultural values,” says Nanise.

 

If you would like to improve your financial literacy and wellbeing please contact K'aute Pasifika today:

The journey of the Nanise Tamani family is a testament to the power of perseverance, community support, and financial literacy. With the right guidance and resources, they transformed their financial outlook, secured a home, and paved the way for a brighter future for their children.

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