Pasifika students in south Auckland will be among the first to learn about risk management and insurance via an Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) interactive online tool.

“Pasifika” is a term embracing people from the Pacific Islands, including Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia.

The program will begin tomorrow as part of Money Week, with students gathering at the Pacific Business Trust to work on natural disaster simulations that teach basic concepts about finance and insurance.

ICNZ says one in six New Zealand students do not reach baseline proficiency in financial literacy, and 44% of this group identifies as Pasifika.

Insurance take-up among Pasifika people is also relatively low.

CEO Tim Grafton says Money Week is about raising awareness and increasing discussion about financial capability.

“ICNZ wants to do more to improve the financial literacy of the Pasifika community, particularly with respect to insurance,” he said.