Two Palagi in a Pisinisi Pod

Dave talks with Chris Saili and Janina Wetzel about the journey of building a business in the Pacific, the challenges and opportunities in the region, the role of partnerships and growth, the ADB Frontier Seed Program, the Moana Data Services business model, data accessibility and infrastructure in the Pacific, and advice for doing business in the region. Key takeaways include the importance of community collaboration and the need for data accessibility in the Pacific.TakeawaysCommunity CollaborationData AccessibilityChapters00:00 Building a Business in the Pacific20:48 The ADB Frontier Seed Program27:58 Moana Data Services Business Model37:17 Advice for Doing Business in the Pacific

With the president of Asia Development Bank traveling throughout the Pacific this week Dave and Glen take the opportunity to talk about the work of the ADB. Looking at some of this week's announcements including the opening of a new ADB office in the Solomon Islands and also discussing broad developments of how the ADB finds projects across the Pacific region. How should business engage?

In this engaging conversation, Sir Ewan Smith shares his journey in the aviation industry, detailing the challenges and innovations he faced while establishing and running an airline in the Cook Islands. He discusses the critical role of air access in supporting tourism, the impact of COVID-19 on his business, and the importance of community and local talent in sustaining operations. Ewan also reflects on the future of tourism in the Cook Islands, emphasizing the need for balance and stewardship in the industry. His insights provide valuable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and highlight the unique opportunities within the Pacific Islands.

Glen and Dave discuss various themes surrounding Pacific business, including community celebrations for Waitangi Day, the impact of the late Sanjesh Prasad on the Vision Group, tourism opportunities in Fiji and Palau, updates on the banking sector, infrastructure developments, mining prospects in Bougainville, and the growth of the kava industry. TakeawaysWaitangi Day celebrations foster community spirit and connection.Sanjesh Prasad's legacy will continue through the Vision Group.Tourism is a vital economic driver in the Pacific.Deflation can have negative impacts on economic growth.Infrastructure events provide networking opportunities for businesses.The kava industry is experiencing significant growth in Fiji.Mining developments in Bougainville could reshape the local economy.Sound bites"It's a beautiful space with community feel.""The legacy will continue of the Vision Group.""Deflation is not necessarily a good thing."Chapters00:00 Celebrating Waitangi Day Across the Pacific05:56 Honoring Legacy: The Vision Group and Its Impact08:26 Tourism Trends and Insights from Fiji16:38 Banking Sector Updates and Economic Reflections21:25 Infrastructure Developments and Opportunities29:14 The Rise of Kava: A Growing Industry in FijiDisclaimerDave and Glen both have day jobs with New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and want to make sure listeners know that any views or opinions they express are personal and do not reflect the position of New Zealand Trade & Enterprise.

In this episode Dave and Glen talk Pacific tourism, through their talanoa with Jenny Seeto who chaired the recent Fiji Tourism Summit. They also talk about Jenny's career and about the key ingredients of Fiji's tourism success: collaboration and connectivity in the tourism industry, outcomes and next steps for Fiji's tourism industry, future initiatives and trends in Fiji's tourism industry, and business community engagement and opportunities in Fiji.TakeawaysPacific tourism growthImpact of tourism on the Pacific economyChapters00:00 Introduction and Pacific Tourism Growth07:21 Fiji's Tourism Industry and Land Lease Payments23:39 Collaboration and Connectivity in the Tourism Industry29:24 Outcomes and Next Steps for Fiji's Tourism Industry40:44 Business Community Engagement and Opportunities in Fiji

In this episode, Glen and Dave discuss the movement of people across the Pacific, focusing on tourism trends in Fiji and the Cook Islands, migration patterns in Vanuatu, and the implications of the US visa bond. They also touch on the redevelopment of Air Vanuatu and the upcoming New Zealand election.TakeawaysThe Pacific business landscape is vibrant and evolving.Recent weather events have impacted communities in New Zealand.Fiji is nearing a million tourists, showcasing its appeal.Cook Islands tourism emphasizes local experiences over resorts.Vanuatu faces challenges with labor outflow due to migration schemes.Air Vanuatu is undergoing significant redevelopment efforts.The US visa bond could affect business travel and opportunities.The podcast has gained recognition in both Fiji and Afghanistan.Sound Bites"Fiji had record years for tourism.""Politics play a part in business.""We're number one in Fiji!"Chapters00:00 Introduction to Pacific Business Dynamics02:36 Impact of Recent Weather Events in New Zealand04:13 Tourism Trends in Fiji07:08 Exploring the Cook Islands Tourism Model09:56 Vanuatu's Economic Landscape and Labor Migration12:51 Air Vanuatu's Redevelopment Efforts15:21 US Visa Bond and Its Implications18:17 New Zealand Elections Date21:05 Podcast Growth and Future DirectionsDisclaimerDave and Glen are both employed in day jobs at New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE); however, this podcast is their private endeavour so they wish it to be known that any views or opinions expressed in the podcast are personal and do not reflect any positions of NZTE.

In this episode of Two Palagi in a Pisinisi Pod, hosts Glen and David delve into the business of Pacific sports, highlighting significant events and developments across the region. They discuss recent experiences at the ASB Auckland Open tennis tournament and the inaugural Pickleball Open in Rarotonga, showcasing the growing interest in diverse sports. The conversation shifts to the Coral Coast Sevens in Fiji, where competitive teams vie for a $50,000 prize, and the recent resignation of All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, a topic that has captured national attention in New Zealand. The episode features a special guest, Josefa Vanuaca, who shares insights into the business side of the Fijian Drua rugby team. He discusses the team's funding structure, revenue streams, and the importance of sponsorship in sustaining the franchise. Josefa emphasizes the evolving nature of sports business in the Pacific, including new initiatives like hybrid streaming options and the significance of women's rugby.

Great to be back in 2026 and as we start the year Dave talks about the year ahead with some major events coming up in the tourism and in the infra-structure sectors. We look at some of the developments in energy across the region with a focus on energy pricing in Fiji and we discuss the movie-style bank heist that happened in Vanuatu during the holiday season.

Dave and Glen sit down with Craig Strong, Chief Investment Officer for BSP Life in Suva to talanoa about Craig’s background, BSP’s approach to investment and their growing connection to Iwi investors in Aotearoa.

Kia ora, bula, kia orana, talofa and welcome to Two Palagi in a Pisinisi Pod with Glen Murphy and Dave Dewar. In this episode we recap Papua New Guinea Investment Week and discuss the major announcements shaping business across the Pacific. Highlights include the Puk Puk Treaty, Australia’s $600 million commitment to Papua New Guinea’s new NRL team, visa changes to boost tourism, and updates on major resource projects including Papua New Guinea LNG. We also touch on the Asian Development Bank's economic outlook for the Pacific and the region’s climate-related risks. Connectivity is a key theme: Google’s planned subsea cables and data centre plans promise lower data costs and improved resilience. We close with a look ahead to Austrade’s Pacific trade commissioner roles and a preview of next week’s guest, Craig Strong from BSP Life.

Glen does his homework and talks about the Auckland Council report that quantifies the importance of the Pacific economy in Auckland while Dave attends a roundtable session to understand Energy Fiji’s investment pipeline and talks about the excellent results from Fiji’s National Provident Fund.

This week Dave comes back from Papua New Guinea and tells us about the opportunities there and Glen attends a conference on Pacific Business in Auckland