Aotearoa, NZ – The owners of Moana Pasifika have strongly denied allegations of misusing public funding, as an independent review is launched into two Whānau Ora commissioning agencies.
The controversy comes at a difficult time for Tongan rugby, still reeling from the cancellation of Moana Pasifika’s historic home game in Nuku’alofa earlier this year.
Te Puni Kōkiri, the NZ Government’s principal policy adviser on Māori wellbeing, announced the investigation following “serious” claims of inappropriate use of taxpayer money by Te Pou Matakana Ltd and Pasifika Futures Ltd.
Pasifika Futures, a charity and controlled entity of the Pasifika Medical Association Group (PMA)—which owns Moana Pasifika—has held the Whānau Ora commissioning contract for Pasifika communities since 2014.
The contract, worth $44.35 million this financial year, has been a major revenue source for PMA. Records show that in 2022/23 and 2023/24, PMA directed $770,000 annually from the Whānau Ora funds to the Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust, raising questions about financial transparency.
Moana Pasifika’s management insists no taxpayer money was used to support the Super Rugby Pacific team.
In a statement to the NZ Herald, chairman Dr Kiki Maoate said PMA “strongly reject” any claims that public funds had been used in an inappropriate manner.
Maoate said Moana Pasifika became part of PMA on July 1, 2024 – at which time the Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust was formally established to hold both the professional rugby team and the Moana Pasifika Community Sports Programme.
“Moana Pasifika has always been more than a rugby team. From the outset, it was established as a platform for social good and long-term transformation for Pacific people.
“That founding purpose made it a natural strategic fit for PMA, which recognised the opportunity to strengthen and expand Moana Pasifika’s reach. With that alignment of values and mission, PMA invested to optimise the organisation’s positive impact, capability and connection to Pacific communities.”
However, the controversy has cast a shadow over the franchise, which has already faced backlash from Tongan fans after relocating its scheduled match against the Chiefs away from Nuku’alofa in March.
Moana Pasifika CEO Debbie Sorensen cited “logistical challenges” as the reason for the cancellation, disappointing many in Tonga who had eagerly awaited the historic game.
“Our hearts are in the Pacific, and that is where we want to be, but it wasn’t possible this time,” Sorensen reportedly said at the time. “We are committed to bringing a game to Tonga in 2026.”
With Tongan rugby still struggling financially and the national team’s future uncertain, this latest controversy adds further strain.
Moana Pasifika was founded to create a professional pathway for Pasifika rugby talent, especially for players who might otherwise be missed by traditional systems. More than just a team, it represents a movement for social change, empowering Pacific communities through sport.
As a not-for-profit, it reinvests earnings back into grassroots development, youth programs, and cultural pride, ensuring rugby becomes a force for long-term growth and opportunity across the region.
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