February 26, 2026 • 11 mins
Earlier this week, it was announced that Moana Pasifika would not be taking a game to Tonga for the second time in as many years.
Last year it was due to issues with the grounds lighting, this year they are unable to cover the $600,000 it would cost to bring all the required broadcasting equipment for the game.
This is despite discussions with sponsors that unfortunately fell through.
Debbie Sorensen is the CEO of Moana Pasifika and she joined D'Arcy to discuss.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Listen
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It'd be nearly this week was announced that Morna Pacifico
would not be taking a game to Donna for the
second time as many years. Last year it was issues
around the grounds lighting. This year, wow, it's going to
cost them six hundred thousand dollars to ah wow, that's
how much of the cost to bring the required broadcast
(00:32):
equipment for the game. So discussions of the sponsors, unfortunately
they fell through, so it's a no go. It's very disappointing.
There's an understatement fans living in the Pacific because they're
gonna have to wait for at least another year, maybe
longer to see their team in action to talk about that.
Joined by Debbi Sorenson, she's a CEO of Moana Pussyfica.
(00:55):
Let's discuss today, Debmi.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Trust you well, Hi, Darcie. Great to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
And great to have you on as well. She's been
a difficult time for your club, your franchise of recent days.
It's not going to happen over in Donga, and that's
I'm sure not of great delight to you or your
fan base. I'm really interested to know with this team,
how much of your identity is tied up with actually
(01:21):
playing in the Islands.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I think quite a lot.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Although in saying that, you know, our kinship roots are
strong and deep. I think it's one of the commitments
that we have is to strengthen the pathways from the Pacific,
you know, to New Zealand and the opportunities for young
men to be able to play at Super rugby and
then be able to play at an international level. The
(01:45):
obvious you know around that is Flungi, whose story is
just amazing when he came out of club rugby in
summer and is now the captain of a Super Rugby
team and well a team we would expect in this
next international. And so in order to really keep those
relationships strong, we really want to play at home and
(02:05):
so we are any club that have taken a Super
Rugby game to Tonga into summer. So we've done it
already and so the question is how can we get
sustainable funding to keep doing that Because it is a
bench of exercise. You know, people have been very quick
think to criticize us without really understanding that it's a
six hundred thousand dollars deal that we're not funded for
(02:27):
and you know, economically we just don't have the funding
to be able to do that, so we need people
to help us with that.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
You would have been reaching out to a lot of
organizations within rugby and sponsorship wise too. Look you've got
your primary sponsors think Sky and Ford and Pure in
New Zealand, the spring Water, but you've also got Super Rugby,
New Zealand, Rugby, Long and Rugby, Salmon and Rugby and
World Rugby. There's a number of different opportunities for you.
(02:55):
Are they all dead ends or just limited funding?
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Debbie, Well, in terms of Summer and Tongue rugby, the
home countries get very limited funding. You know, they don't
get a lot of funding, so you know that would
be a substantial burden on them. They certainly don't have
the money to be able to do that. In terms
of World Rugby, World Rugby is now investing in the US,
not in the Pacific, and so previously they funded Mowana
(03:19):
and have stopped funding us from this year. And so
even with the World Rugby, you know, funding us to
do pathways which would include this type of work that
funding has been withdrawn.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Is that reversible, that decision, because it sounds wholly unfair
when you consider that Pacific rugby is it's a hotbed
of talent and the PACIFICA Nations they send their players
all over the globe. So I think World Rugby responsibility
to actually look after this as much as they can
and not just turn up, give some money, then disappear
(03:53):
in the next month.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Yes, I think you know World Rugby's viewers, well, they
fund the home countries and that's enough. Why would they
fund a super rugby side. And you know they haven't
recognized the value that Mowanna adds. Not only are we
really good at bringing players through, but we also provide
coaches to the national teams and I actually pay those
(04:14):
coaches when they're away in the international season and working
for trauma. You know, they do clinics on Ireland, and
they do coaching schools for you know, development players, all
of things. And so I think it's short sighted. It's
not either or it's not about funding the That investment
needs to be broad and it needs to be in
(04:36):
ways that will work. And you know, we've got a
demonstrated capacity inside the club to do some work on
development pathways and really should be funded it.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I don't expect you'd no, it's probably not really in
your line of sight. But how do Fijian drewer deal
with I expect they've got similar issues.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
So the Drawer is partially owned by the Fuji government
and so it's quite a different you know, it's a
different kind of funding to us. They also have an
credible sponsorship and following in Fiji, and so their sponsorship
arrangement much more significant than ours. They have been incredibly supportive.
Our friend Brent Impi is the chair of the Drawer,
(05:19):
and they have been very supportive and a little bit
anxious actually, because they understand that for them to stay
in the competition, we need to stay in the competition
as well. And they're worried, you know, that should we
fall out of the competition that then in fact they
will be the next ones to go.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
We're joined by the CEO of Mona Pacifiker, Debbie Sorenson.
Is there any light at the end of the tunnel?
You're a very optimistic character. I think your your glass
is half full? But is this realistic in this day
and a Can you see a solution in the not
so distant future to get you back to the islands again.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Look, I think there is a solution, and I think
what we understand is that it's going to be a
collective response. That won't be you know, one donor or
one funder or sponsor sponsoring the whole gig. The major
cost are the broadcasting costs and moving the broadcasting gear
across so that you know, it's three tons of gear
and that's actually the cost. You know, that's the substantial cost.
(06:17):
And I think that what we need to do between
now and next season is to work together with a
collective who will all contribute to bringing a game. And
I think that that is our way forward. There's no
question at all that we want to be in the Pacific,
there's no question that countries want us. And I think
it's a matter of rallying supporters to say, hey, if
(06:38):
you are interested in this, then this is the way
you can contribute.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Well, what Sky's attitude towards all of this, But because
plainly they're not the smallest company in the world and
it's all their equipment, right, how much engagement are you
getting with them as far as helping fund this.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Well, that's pretty clear about this is what it costs
them to take their broadcasting equipment across to the country,
and that we need to pay for it.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
There's not a lot of negotiation or in that not
a lot of.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Gray area there as well. Hey, when you're it's so funny,
isn't it. You're playing this weekend against a team that
isn't even in the Pacific.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Yes, wester and fourth, Yeah they're on the other side.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You're right, that's an irony. I mean, it's Super Rugby Pacific.
It kind of has to happen, if you will. It's
all written in the name. Any other roadblocks or is
it purely just funding? Do you think theybe?
Speaker 4 (07:30):
I think equity and funding is something that needs to
be addressed. So for example, we're not funded on the
same basis that New Zealand franchises are because we're not
a New Zealand rugby entity. You know, we're independent and
so for example, we pay our own medical costs, you know,
for our medical staff, whereas for the other New Zealand
franchises that's included in their funding. And so there is
(07:54):
you know, there are a number of areas where it's
not equitable. We have the same restrictions in terms of
the license to play, but we don't have the same
funding and so at some stage that needs to be addressed,
needs to be looked at, and I think it's it's
not I don't think it was an intentional effect of
the license. I think it was an indication of the
(08:17):
speed at which the license was put together. And you know,
we got a license in August to play in that
season and so you know, all of the paperwork and
the license stuff was done very quickly without people really
having a proper look at it and saying it chees
is the right thing to do. So we shouldn't be
held to the same constraints as the New Zealand franchises
if we're not funded to the same level. And so
(08:39):
that is a conversation that we need to have with
New Zealand Rugby and they're certainly up for that conversation
and so we look forward to progressing that. The second area,
of course, is sponsorship, and you know, as you'd be
aware does in this current economic climate, you know, sponsorship
is really hard, and particularly sponsorship in terms of cash,
so services and products are a little bit easier. So
(09:02):
the contra kind of sponsorship and we've got a reasonable
amount of that. But you know, having people that will
sponsor us and give us hard cash is really difficult
because economically a lot of organizations don't have it right
at the moment. And that's really what makes the difference
for us.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Not going to the Pacific this year. How confident are
you that that will turn and you'll be back in
the Iteands next season.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
I think we need to We just need to keep
at it. I don't think it's acceptable for us to say, oh,
this is too hard, we're not going to do it.
And so you know, we would be looking, for example,
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Trade and their
sports diplomacy program, because there is no question at all
that this is a sports diplomacy activity and seeing how
they could contribute to that, and they've indicated Sydney Minister
(09:47):
Peters has indicated his support for Mowanna. So it's just
a matter of working that through. And you know, I
just think we don't give up. You know, we're not
known for giving up. Really. We started the franchise five
years ago and lots of people would have liked this
to give up, and here we are in our fifth
year and already started the season with a band. So
you know, I'm absolutely confident that we'll find a solution
(10:07):
to this. We just need to keep working at it.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
How do you get there? You just keep going. One
last thing for you, DeBie Sorens and CEO of Mona PACIFICA.
How does this affect your fan base do you think
because the biggest Pacific community in the world is in Auckland,
so everybody is here. But by not going to the islands,
is that undermining you were toall what do you know
from what the fan base? What do they say?
Speaker 4 (10:31):
I think the fans are disappointed, there's no question about that.
But you're right. The reality is that our constituency is
in New Zealand. You know, we have four hundred thousand
Pacific people in New Zealand and so that's a sizable population.
But in saying that, we have a lot of traffic
back and forth, you know, we all go home several
(10:52):
times a year. There's a lot of travel between the
countries and of course a lot of kinship links. So
the fan base, I think our fan base are affected
in the same way we are. You know, we disappointed,
but again we are non Pacific people are known to
be persistent and resilient and successful and so you know,
(11:13):
as I say, we're not going to give up now,
and we expect that we'll find some solution to this.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Brilliant Debbie Sorenson, CEO Mona Pacifika, thanks very much for
your time.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
It's a pleasure my little pole.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
For more from sports talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
It'd be nearly this week was announced that Morna Pacifico
would not be taking a game to Donna for the
second time as many years. Last year it was issues
around the grounds lighting. This year, wow, it's going to
cost them six hundred thousand dollars to ah wow, that's
how much of the cost to bring the required broadcast
(00:32):
equipment for the game. So discussions of the sponsors, unfortunately
they fell through, so it's a no go. It's very disappointing.
There's an understatement fans living in the Pacific because they're
gonna have to wait for at least another year, maybe
longer to see their team in action to talk about that.
Joined by Debbi Sorenson, she's a CEO of Moana Pussyfica.
(00:55):
Let's discuss today, Debmi.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
Trust you well, Hi, Darcie. Great to talk to you.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
And great to have you on as well. She's been
a difficult time for your club, your franchise of recent days.
It's not going to happen over in Donga, and that's
I'm sure not of great delight to you or your
fan base. I'm really interested to know with this team,
how much of your identity is tied up with actually
(01:21):
playing in the Islands.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
I think quite a lot.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Although in saying that, you know, our kinship roots are
strong and deep. I think it's one of the commitments
that we have is to strengthen the pathways from the Pacific,
you know, to New Zealand and the opportunities for young
men to be able to play at Super rugby and
then be able to play at an international level. The
(01:45):
obvious you know around that is Flungi, whose story is
just amazing when he came out of club rugby in
summer and is now the captain of a Super Rugby
team and well a team we would expect in this
next international. And so in order to really keep those
relationships strong, we really want to play at home and
(02:05):
so we are any club that have taken a Super
Rugby game to Tonga into summer. So we've done it
already and so the question is how can we get
sustainable funding to keep doing that Because it is a
bench of exercise. You know, people have been very quick
think to criticize us without really understanding that it's a
six hundred thousand dollars deal that we're not funded for
(02:27):
and you know, economically we just don't have the funding
to be able to do that, so we need people
to help us with that.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
You would have been reaching out to a lot of
organizations within rugby and sponsorship wise too. Look you've got
your primary sponsors think Sky and Ford and Pure in
New Zealand, the spring Water, but you've also got Super Rugby,
New Zealand, Rugby, Long and Rugby, Salmon and Rugby and
World Rugby. There's a number of different opportunities for you.
(02:55):
Are they all dead ends or just limited funding?
Speaker 4 (02:58):
Debbie, Well, in terms of Summer and Tongue rugby, the
home countries get very limited funding. You know, they don't
get a lot of funding, so you know that would
be a substantial burden on them. They certainly don't have
the money to be able to do that. In terms
of World Rugby, World Rugby is now investing in the US,
not in the Pacific, and so previously they funded Mowana
(03:19):
and have stopped funding us from this year. And so
even with the World Rugby, you know, funding us to
do pathways which would include this type of work that
funding has been withdrawn.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Is that reversible, that decision, because it sounds wholly unfair
when you consider that Pacific rugby is it's a hotbed
of talent and the PACIFICA Nations they send their players
all over the globe. So I think World Rugby responsibility
to actually look after this as much as they can
and not just turn up, give some money, then disappear
(03:53):
in the next month.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
Yes, I think you know World Rugby's viewers, well, they
fund the home countries and that's enough. Why would they
fund a super rugby side. And you know they haven't
recognized the value that Mowanna adds. Not only are we
really good at bringing players through, but we also provide
coaches to the national teams and I actually pay those
(04:14):
coaches when they're away in the international season and working
for trauma. You know, they do clinics on Ireland, and
they do coaching schools for you know, development players, all
of things. And so I think it's short sighted. It's
not either or it's not about funding the That investment
needs to be broad and it needs to be in
(04:36):
ways that will work. And you know, we've got a
demonstrated capacity inside the club to do some work on
development pathways and really should be funded it.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I don't expect you'd no, it's probably not really in
your line of sight. But how do Fijian drewer deal
with I expect they've got similar issues.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
So the Drawer is partially owned by the Fuji government
and so it's quite a different you know, it's a
different kind of funding to us. They also have an
credible sponsorship and following in Fiji, and so their sponsorship
arrangement much more significant than ours. They have been incredibly supportive.
Our friend Brent Impi is the chair of the Drawer,
(05:19):
and they have been very supportive and a little bit
anxious actually, because they understand that for them to stay
in the competition, we need to stay in the competition
as well. And they're worried, you know, that should we
fall out of the competition that then in fact they
will be the next ones to go.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
We're joined by the CEO of Mona Pacifiker, Debbie Sorenson.
Is there any light at the end of the tunnel?
You're a very optimistic character. I think your your glass
is half full? But is this realistic in this day
and a Can you see a solution in the not
so distant future to get you back to the islands again.
Speaker 4 (05:54):
Look, I think there is a solution, and I think
what we understand is that it's going to be a
collective response. That won't be you know, one donor or
one funder or sponsor sponsoring the whole gig. The major
cost are the broadcasting costs and moving the broadcasting gear
across so that you know, it's three tons of gear
and that's actually the cost. You know, that's the substantial cost.
(06:17):
And I think that what we need to do between
now and next season is to work together with a
collective who will all contribute to bringing a game. And
I think that that is our way forward. There's no
question at all that we want to be in the Pacific,
there's no question that countries want us. And I think
it's a matter of rallying supporters to say, hey, if
(06:38):
you are interested in this, then this is the way
you can contribute.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
Well, what Sky's attitude towards all of this, But because
plainly they're not the smallest company in the world and
it's all their equipment, right, how much engagement are you
getting with them as far as helping fund this.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Well, that's pretty clear about this is what it costs
them to take their broadcasting equipment across to the country,
and that we need to pay for it.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
There's not a lot of negotiation or in that not
a lot of.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Gray area there as well. Hey, when you're it's so funny,
isn't it. You're playing this weekend against a team that
isn't even in the Pacific.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Yes, wester and fourth, Yeah they're on the other side.
Speaker 2 (07:16):
You're right, that's an irony. I mean, it's Super Rugby Pacific.
It kind of has to happen, if you will. It's
all written in the name. Any other roadblocks or is
it purely just funding? Do you think theybe?
Speaker 4 (07:30):
I think equity and funding is something that needs to
be addressed. So for example, we're not funded on the
same basis that New Zealand franchises are because we're not
a New Zealand rugby entity. You know, we're independent and
so for example, we pay our own medical costs, you know,
for our medical staff, whereas for the other New Zealand
franchises that's included in their funding. And so there is
(07:54):
you know, there are a number of areas where it's
not equitable. We have the same restrictions in terms of
the license to play, but we don't have the same
funding and so at some stage that needs to be addressed,
needs to be looked at, and I think it's it's
not I don't think it was an intentional effect of
the license. I think it was an indication of the
(08:17):
speed at which the license was put together. And you know,
we got a license in August to play in that
season and so you know, all of the paperwork and
the license stuff was done very quickly without people really
having a proper look at it and saying it chees
is the right thing to do. So we shouldn't be
held to the same constraints as the New Zealand franchises
if we're not funded to the same level. And so
(08:39):
that is a conversation that we need to have with
New Zealand Rugby and they're certainly up for that conversation
and so we look forward to progressing that. The second area,
of course, is sponsorship, and you know, as you'd be
aware does in this current economic climate, you know, sponsorship
is really hard, and particularly sponsorship in terms of cash,
so services and products are a little bit easier. So
(09:02):
the contra kind of sponsorship and we've got a reasonable
amount of that. But you know, having people that will
sponsor us and give us hard cash is really difficult
because economically a lot of organizations don't have it right
at the moment. And that's really what makes the difference
for us.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Not going to the Pacific this year. How confident are
you that that will turn and you'll be back in
the Iteands next season.
Speaker 4 (09:25):
I think we need to We just need to keep
at it. I don't think it's acceptable for us to say, oh,
this is too hard, we're not going to do it.
And so you know, we would be looking, for example,
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Trade and their
sports diplomacy program, because there is no question at all
that this is a sports diplomacy activity and seeing how
they could contribute to that, and they've indicated Sydney Minister
(09:47):
Peters has indicated his support for Mowanna. So it's just
a matter of working that through. And you know, I
just think we don't give up. You know, we're not
known for giving up. Really. We started the franchise five
years ago and lots of people would have liked this
to give up, and here we are in our fifth
year and already started the season with a band. So
you know, I'm absolutely confident that we'll find a solution
(10:07):
to this. We just need to keep working at it.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
How do you get there? You just keep going. One
last thing for you, DeBie Sorens and CEO of Mona PACIFICA.
How does this affect your fan base do you think
because the biggest Pacific community in the world is in Auckland,
so everybody is here. But by not going to the islands,
is that undermining you were toall what do you know
from what the fan base? What do they say?
Speaker 4 (10:31):
I think the fans are disappointed, there's no question about that.
But you're right. The reality is that our constituency is
in New Zealand. You know, we have four hundred thousand
Pacific people in New Zealand and so that's a sizable population.
But in saying that, we have a lot of traffic
back and forth, you know, we all go home several
(10:52):
times a year. There's a lot of travel between the
countries and of course a lot of kinship links. So
the fan base, I think our fan base are affected
in the same way we are. You know, we disappointed,
but again we are non Pacific people are known to
be persistent and resilient and successful and so you know,
(11:13):
as I say, we're not going to give up now,
and we expect that we'll find some solution to this.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Brilliant Debbie Sorenson, CEO Mona Pacifika, thanks very much for
your time.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
It's a pleasure my little pole.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
For more from sports talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Fudd Around And Find Out
UConn basketball star Azzi Fudd brings her championship swag to iHeart Women’s Sports with Fudd Around and Find Out, a weekly podcast that takes fans along for the ride as Azzi spends her final year of college trying to reclaim the National Championship and prepare to be a first round WNBA draft pick. Ever wonder what it’s like to be a world-class athlete in the public spotlight while still managing schoolwork, friendships and family time? It’s time to Fudd Around and Find Out!