Delegates at a Pacific Island economic development conference in Manukau City have been told the Government wants to forge closer relationships with the population's many churches.
Pacific Island Affairs Minister Georgina te Heuheu says the Government is formulating plans which may see economic and education policies working in conjunction with the churches.
She says Pacific Island churches perform many of the functions that Marae do for Maori, and are nationwide.
Conference organiser Uluomato'otua Aiono says the announcement is welcome, but the Government must not make assumptions about how congregations behave, because each church is different.
