The Fale Malae Trust has its origins in the Komiti Pasifika, a group established in 2012 by Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban and reporting to the Vice-Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington. Komiti members are appointed to bring relevant expertise and accurately reflect the views and aspirations of Pasifika peoples in New Zealand, particularly as they relate to achieving improved higher education outcomes. It became clear to Komiti members that effectively engaging Pacific communities and building a much stronger connection with Pasifika families was essential to encourage participation of their youth in higher education. The Komiti observed there was no single space in the Wellington region that acted as a welcome focal point for the Pasifika community – a place to call their own and serve as an engaging meeting place and portico to high education.

As a result, members of the Komiti engaged with Pasifika communities and other major stakeholders to assess the need for a dedicated public space, establish the community requirements and the associated benefits of meeting those needs. Through these consultations, it became clear that the benefits of a dedicated space and the creation of a sense of belonging went well beyond purely supporting education outcomes. Feedback from a diverse set of stakeholders from across New Zealand was overwhelmingly supportive of the provision of a common meeting space to give Pasifika a voice and provide a focal point for the Pasifika community in our capital city.

In 2017, a selection of Komiti members formed the Fale Malae Establishment Group which managed the project through to 2019, when the Fale Malae Trust was established to lead the preparation of a preliminary business case, establish funding for the new Fale, and to implement the project. The Fale Malae Trust is an independent entity with a group of trustees who bring wide ranging skills, passion, experience and cultural mana, including representation of mana whenua. The core activities of the Trust are the development, funding, construction and operational governance of an authentic Pacific space of national significance.