Elika Consulting Group-ECG

📚 The future of school governance is already here.

ECG is proud to contribute to the national conversation on culturally responsive leadership and governance through our latest feature article with Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – NZ School Boards Association (NZSBA).

As Aotearoa New Zealand’s communities continue to evolve, effective governance must reflect the diversity, aspirations, and lived experiences of the students and whānau schools serve. Pacific, Māori and Asian communities are now central to many school communities, making cultural intelligence, inclusive leadership, and authentic engagement more important than ever.

We’re also excited to be part of the upcoming 2026 NZSBA Annual Members Conference, taking place 17–19 July at the Aotea Centre in Auckland. The conference brings together school board members, education leaders, and governance professionals from across the country for keynote presentations, workshops, masterclasses, and networking focused on strengthening school governance across Aotearoa.

At ECG, we believe strong governance goes beyond compliance — it is about building trust, strengthening relationships, and ensuring communities feel genuinely seen, heard, and included in decision-making.

Fa’afetai tele lava to Te Whakarōpūtanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa – NZSBA for the opportunity to contribute to this important kaupapa.

Click here to register: https://www.tewhakaroputanga.org.nz/2026-conference

Unlocking India-Pacific Business Opportunities
Strengthening Pacific–India Connections Through Trade, Innovation & Partnership

Last week, ECG was proud to host the “Unlocking India-Pacific Business Opportunities” networking event in partnership with the Consulate General Office of India in Auckland.

The evening brought together Pasifika entrepreneurs, business leaders, academics, innovators, and community stakeholders for an engaging talanoa focused on strengthening trade, investment, and business connections between the Pacific, Aotearoa New Zealand, and India.

We were honoured to welcome Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Auckland, who opened the evening with insights into the growing opportunities emerging from the NZ–India Free Trade Agreement and the importance of strengthening regional business partnerships.

Our panel discussion featured:
• Dr. Hanoku Bathula – University of Auckland Business School
• Prof. Rahul Sen – AUT Business School
• Mallika Janakiraman – Founder & Chair, Wahine Charitable Trust
• Tristan Mona – Founder, KiwiHacks

The conversations highlighted opportunities across technology, innovation, trade, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and investment pathways into India and the wider Pacific region.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to such a positive and forward-focused evening. ECG remains committed to creating spaces that foster meaningful dialogue, collaboration, and long-term partnerships for our Pacific communities and businesses.

Fa’afetai tele lava to our partners, speakers, and guests for making the evening a success.

Part 3 of our series on the Philanthropy Gap in the Pacific
Check it out ⬇️
https://www.ecg.nz/post/the-pacific-philanthropy-gap-why-donors-aren-t-investing-and-what-needs-to-change-part-3

Great conversations, great people, and a shared vision for stronger communities. 🤝✨

It was a privilege connecting with Sjimmy Fransen and Tanya Browne and sharing ideas around community leadership, engagement, and creating meaningful impact across our communities.

At ECG, we’re passionate about bringing people together — connecting strategy, creativity, culture, and community to create practical solutions that make a real difference.

From community spaces and youth engagement to safety initiatives and Pacific-led development, the focus remains the same: building sustainable outcomes that truly reflect the needs of our people.

We believe meaningful change happens when communities are part of the conversation — not just the outcome. That means listening, engaging, and creating solutions that are culturally grounded, people-focused, and built for long-term impact.

Thank you everyone contributing their knowledge, leadership, and heart to the journey. ❤️

🏆✨ NEWS FOR ECG! ✨🏆

Following on from recognition as a finalist at the Auckland Business Chamber for Excellence in Strategy 2025, we’re proud to share that ECG (www.ecg.nz) has been named a finalist in the Ōrākei Local Board Business Awards 2026! 🎉

THANK YOU! This means so much to our team, and we're grateful to all our colleagues, clients and partners that have chosen ECG. 💚

👉 Part of the judging is a community vote. Every vote counts and helps celebrate local businesses making a difference in our community 🙌

🗓️ Voting closes 22 May — don’t miss it! please vote by clicking https://lnkd.in/ec9FcX7z
Thank you for being part of our journey 💚

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Feagaimaalii Sara-Jane Elika Sabrina Tian Latafale Leavasa Pacific Media Network Pacific Business Trust

Part 2 of our series on the Philanthropy Gap in the Pacific
Check it out ⬇️
https://www.ecg.nz/post/the-pacific-philanthropy-gap-why-donors-aren-t-investing-and-what-needs-to-change-part-2 Elika Consulting Group-ECG PMN News

The Pacific Philanthropy Gap: Why Donors Aren’t Investing — and What Needs to Change (Part 2) IntroductionIn Part 1, we explored why the Pacific remains overlooked within global philanthropy despite its strategic importance.This underinvestment is only part of the challenge.The deeper issue lies in the systems surrounding philanthropy itself — the structures, networks, and information path...

Thank you to the Consulate General of India in Auckland for resharing this special event and for partnering with ECG to bring Pacific entrepreneurs and leaders together. 🙏🏽🇮🇳🇳🇿
We appreciate the opportunity to strengthen connections and discuss new trade and investment opportunities through the NZ–India FTA.
A special thank you to Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi and everyone who attended and contributed to the evening. ECG looks forward to continuing to support Pacific business growth and international partnerships. 🤝✨

🌺Reflecting on an incredible week in Tonga!

Our team at ECG was privileged to be on the ground delivering governance training as part of the Partnerships for Aviation (P4A) programme, in collaboration with Mayfield and supported by the Australian Government through DFAT. This initiative is all about strengthening governance leadership, building capability, for a resilient Pacific aviation sector. ✈️

Our engaging workshops across 4 days provided meaningful talanoa with Senior leaders in Tonga. ECG created bespoke training which focused on our expertise in Crisis Management, Strategic Communications, GEDSI and Environmental issues while also providing fresh insights for Directors responsibility of Duty of Care and Fiduciary Duties.

We’re proud to contribute to programmes that empower Pacific leaders with the skills and confidence to drive effective governance and long-term impact across their sectors. This work reflects our core values of excellence, integrity, innovation, and resilience .

Mālō 'aupito to our partners and everyone who made the week so special. We’re excited for what’s ahead as we continue this journey across the Pacific and our next stop in Fiji.

Check out our latest blog!

Vast Ocean, Shallow Investment: Closing the Pacific’s Philanthropy Gap and What Needs to Change (Part 1) IntroductionThe Pacific is often framed through its beauty of vast ocean landscapes, rich marine ecosystems, and deeply connected communities. But beyond this imagery lies something far more significant: the region supports critical global systems. It contains a quarter of the world’s coral reefs,...

🌍 ECG Leadership Engages in Strategic Discussion on Global Conflict and New Zealand’s Economic Future

🤝 ECG CEO Leaupepe Ralph Elika and Executive Director Feagaimaali'i Sara-Jane Elika attended Auckland Business Chamber breakfast briefing featuring Hon Shane Jones, where business and political leaders gathered to discuss the economic implications of the ongoing Middle East conflict on New Zealand.

📈 The session explored how rising geopolitical tensions are increasingly impacting global trade, supply chains, fuel and energy prices, investment confidence, and long-term economic stability. With international uncertainty continuing to shape business environments worldwide, the discussion highlighted the importance of informed leadership, strategic planning, and resilience across both the public and private sectors.

🌐 For ECG, participating in conversations of national and global significance is an important part of staying connected to the evolving economic landscape and understanding the broader issues influencing businesses, communities, and future opportunities in New Zealand.

💼 ECG remains committed to engaging with leaders, institutions, and industry conversations that contribute to sustainable growth, stronger partnerships, and informed decision-making in an increasingly interconnected world.