Pacific Cooperation Foundation

What Pacific Cooperation Foundation does

Pacific Cooperation Foundation (PCF), legally incorporated in New Zealand and operating publicly as Pacific Collaborative Futures since an April 2026 Board-endorsed strategic repositioning, is a charitable trust founded in 2002 and headquartered in Auckland CBD. The organisation runs a portfolio of youth-focused programs for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the wider Pacific region, including the Manaaki Scholars internship scheme, the Prime Minister's Scholarship for Asia (PMSA) delivered with Education New Zealand and Pagoda Projects, the HEX (Hacker Exchange) global innovation and entrepreneurship partnership, and the Mana Wantaim alumni network platform launched in February 2025. PCF also publishes the biennial New Zealanders' Perceptions of the Pacific research series, which it positions as the only nationally representative dataset on NZ public attitudes toward the Pacific, with waves in 2022 (2,300+ respondents) and 2025 (2,000+ respondents).

PCF's underlying technology stack is minimal: the organisation is not a product or software company and its "platform" layer consists of the Mana Wantaim network and a standard content/newsletter website (pcf.org.nz) built on Squarespace. Its core intellectual assets are programmatic (internship placements, scholarship logistics, convening events such as CONNECT 2023 which drew 300 in-person and 300 virtual attendees across 12 USP countries) and intellectual (the longitudinal Perceptions research franchise).

The business model is grant-funded philanthropy rather than commercial revenue. PCF is funded through government ministries (notably Education New Zealand and the Ministry for Pacific Peoples), development partners, and philanthropic grants, with all programmes fully subsidised for participants. The organisation does not sell products or services, has no disclosed pricing, and operates with a small 13-person team under CEO Joanna Bourke and Board Chair Anne Fitisemanu, serving three primary beneficiary groups: Pacific youth aged 18–35, government and development partners seeking Pacific-led delivery capacity, and policymakers, educators, and researchers who consume PCF's perception data.

Name

Pacific Cooperation Foundation

Legal name

Pacific Cooperation Foundation

Website

https://pcf.org.nz

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacific Cooperation Foundation is a New Zealand-based charitable trust founded in 2002 that delivers internships, scholarships, and innovation programs for Pacific youth aged 18–35, and publishes the only nationally representative research on New Zealanders' perceptions of the Pacific region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Non-Profit Youth Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH), Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE), Institutional Capacity Building & Training (Workforce/Systems Strengthening) (BPADAEAC)

Keywords

• Pacific youth development
• Internship and scholarship programs
• Cross-cultural exchange programmes
• Pacific regional research
• Non-profit foundation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant funding and philanthropic partnerships: PCF is a charitable trust funded primarily through grants, government funding, and partnerships. The organisation does not sell products or services commercially; its revenue supports program delivery including internships, scholarships, research, and events across the Pacific.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pacific Cooperation Foundation delivers fully funded capability-building programs for Pacific youth in Aotearoa New Zealand and across the wider Pacific region. Core offerings include the Manaaki Scholars internship programme, the HEX global innovation and entrepreneurship programme, the Prime Minister's Scholarships to Asia (PMSA), the Mana Wantaim alumni network, and the Pacific Perceptions research reports. Programs are delivered directly by PCF and through partnerships with host employers, universities, and government agencies.

Product overview

Pacific Collaborative Futures (formerly Pacific Cooperation Foundation) operates as a non-profit foundation offering a portfolio of programs rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include the Manaaki Scholars internship programme, the HEX (Hacker Exchange) global innovation programme, Prime Minister's Scholarships to Asia (PMSA), the Mana Wantaim alumni network platform, Pacific Perceptions research reports, and a Pacific Stakeholder Directory. These programs work together to strengthen Pacific identity, deepen relationships, and amplify Pacific voices through capability-building, youth development, and cross-cultural exchange.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Manaaki Scholars Programme Summer internship and scholarship programme connecting Pacific students with host employers across New Zealand and Asia-Pacific, providing work-integrated learning experiences and professional development opportunities.
• HEX Programme Global innovation and entrepreneurship programme that takes Pacific youth into dynamic tech and business hubs (Singapore, Osaka, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Melbourne) for immersive learning experiences with founders, innovators, and industry leaders.
• Prime Minister's Scholarships to Asia (PMSA) Scholarship programme providing Pacific youth with internship and cultural exchange experiences across Asia, including Thailand and Vietnam, building global citizenship skills and professional networks.
• Mana Wantaim Digital network platform uniting Pacific scholars, alumni, and employers to drive collaboration, leadership, and global impact. Provides access to professional development, mentoring, and networking opportunities across the region.
• Pacific Perceptions Reports Research publications surveying New Zealanders' perceptions, attitudes, and relationships with the Pacific region and its peoples, providing data insights for policymakers, educators, and leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• PCF interns have received full-time job offers and university placements as direct outcomes of their placements (e.g., Manisha Prema at Tonga Health Society; Ema Iki accepted into Auckland School of Medicine 2026).
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Hacker Exchange (HEX)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025PCF partners with The Hacker Exchange to open global innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership opportunities for Pasifika youth in Aotearoa New Zealand. Through this partnership, Pacific students access world-class learning experiences across Asia and Australia (Bangkok, Singapore, Osaka, Ho Chi Minh City, Melbourne). PCF supports recruitment, preparation, and cultural guidance. The partnership was launched in 2025 with the first two Pacific delegates attending HEX Bangkok.
• Education New Zealand Manapou ki te AocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025PCF partners with Education New Zealand to deliver the Prime Minister's Scholarship for Asia (PMSA), a fully funded 9-week internship programme in Thailand running November 2025 to February 2026. Education NZ provides funding and strategic alignment with the International Education Strategy. PCF manages recruitment and programme delivery in partnership with Pagoda Projects and Thai institutions.
• Pagoda ProjectscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Pagoda Projects is PCF's operational partner for delivering the PMSA Thailand Experience, providing on-ground logistics, cultural preparation, and host placement services in Thailand. The partnership enables PCF to deliver immersive, work-integrated learning experiences for Pacific youth in Thai environments.
• Auckland Arts FestivalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025PCF partnered with the Auckland Arts Festival to ensure Manaaki Scholars and alumni have access to world-class Pacific and Indigenous performances. Sponsored tickets remove financial barriers, fostering cultural connections and expanding professional networks for scholars.
• Ton Duc Thang University (Vietnam)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024PCF partnered with Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for the inaugural offshore initiative delivering a Pacific female entrepreneurship cohort. The university served as an academic host, providing learning environments and engagement with Vietnam's innovation ecosystem.
• Princess Chulabhorn Science High Schools (Thailand)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024PCF partners with Thailand's Princess Chulabhorn Science High Schools as part of the PMSA Thailand programme, providing immersive STEM and innovation sector experiences for Pacific participants in Thailand.
• TupuToacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023PCF and TupuToa co-hosted CONNECT 2023, a landmark gathering of over 300 in-person and 300 virtual attendees from across 12 USP countries. The event focused on strengthening Pacific identity, deepening relationships, and amplifying Pacific voices. The partnership also extends to joint events for Tokelau and Niue Language Weeks, and the TupuToa Summit.
• University of the South Pacific (USP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023USP partnered with PCF and TupuToa for CONNECT 2023, enabling live-stream connectivity across all 12 USP member countries. USP students engaged with industry leaders and participated in the conference, extending the event's reach across the Pacific region.
• NZ Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023PCF co-hosted a panel discussion with NZIIA titled 'Closing the Connection Gap: New Zealanders, the Pacific, and Global Affairs,' exploring how to deepen New Zealanders' engagement with Pacific neighbours. The event was grounded in insights from the 2025 Perceptions Report.
• Pacific Corporation Broadcasting Limited (Pasifika TV)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023PCF partnered with Pasifika TV to provide comprehensive media coverage of major Pacific events including the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (Cook Islands), Pacific Games Solomon Islands 2023, and COP28 in Dubai. The partnership aimed to amplify Pacific voices and deliver in-depth coverage to global audiences.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat: Regional intergovernmental organisation coordinating Pacific Island nations' policy. A broader incumbent operating in the same NZ–Pacific relations space that PCF's convening work targets.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT): NZ government agency responsible for international relations, official development assistance, and Pacific engagement. A major PCF funder and partner, and the broader incumbent whose Pacific remit overlaps PCF's mission.
• Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP): International scholarship scheme supporting study and research across Commonwealth countries. Comparable as a major scholarship funder for Pacific and NZ students, though operating at significantly larger scale and across a different geographic mandate.
• Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao: NZ government agency for international education, including delivery of the Prime Minister's Scholarship for Asia (PMSA). Direct PCF partner and the incumbent funder of PCF's flagship international scholarship program.

Emerging players

• Foundation for Youth Development (FYD): NZ non-profit delivering youth development, mentoring, and scholarship programs with a Pacific and Māori focus. Comparable non-profit youth-development model, though smaller in geographic and thematic scope than PCF.

Direct peers

• Fulbright New Zealand: Administers international scholarships and exchange programs between NZ and global partners, including graduate study, research, and intercultural exchanges. Closely analogous to PCF's PMSA and Manaaki Scholars delivery model.
• The Hacker Exchange (HEX): Global innovation and entrepreneurship immersion program operating across Asia-Pacific cities. HEX is both PCF's program partner and a directly comparable delivery model for tech and innovation exchanges targeting young participants.
• New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA): Independent, non-partisan membership organisation promoting understanding of international affairs in NZ. Closely comparable think-tank-style entity that PCF co-hosts Pacific-relations events with.
• TupuToa: NZ-based non-profit accelerating Pacific and Māori career pathways through internships, mentoring, and corporate partnerships. Co-host of PCF's CONNECT conference and direct peer in Pacific youth internship delivery.
• Asia New Zealand Foundation: NZ-based charitable trust strengthening NZ–Asia relations through scholarships, internships, leadership programs, and research. Closely mirrors PCF's mandate, structure, and delivery model for NZ's Pacific-adjacent region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC05MxeHQX7Lc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pcfnz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Cooperation Foundation