After nearly two decades working in the produce industry, Cook Islander Aaron Nootai has made a bold career change into the world of mortgage broking.
At the same time, he is helping Pasifika families navigate the path to homeownership while breaking down barriers he says have held his community back for generations.
After a career that revolved around trading fruits and vegetables, building networks, and providing for his young family, Aaron says he felt a pull towards something more meaningful.
“I wanted work that gave me real fulfilment,” he says.
“Helping families into homeownership not only builds stability, it creates something lasting for my anau. I want my kids to see that when you back yourself, stay genuine, and work hard. The results will follow.”
A Personal Spark
When Aaron and his wife Tiaria bought their first home, the process was daunting, with paperwork, unfamiliar terms and strict lending criteria all making it overwhelming. But with guidance from adviser Tapere Hewett, a fellow Cook Islander, they managed to secure their mortgage and their new home. The moment they held the keys was transformative.
“That experience inspired me,” Aaron says.
“I wanted other families, especially Pasifika families, to have that same feeling of security and pride.”
He retrained through the Strategi Institute in Albany and joined Hewett Mortgages, where he’s surrounded by experienced advisers and supportive colleagues who have helped him transition into the industry.
Barriers for Pasifika Families
According to the 2023 Census, just 16.8% of Pacific people in Aotearoa owned their own home, compared with 42.1% of the total population.
For Aaron, this gap isn’t just a statistic, it’s a call to action.
“Many families don’t know where to start, or feel the system is out of reach,” he says.
“Cultural obligations, limited generational wealth, and financial literacy gaps can make saving for a deposit or even understanding lending feel near impossible.”
Still, he believes that one motivated person can spark wider change.
“You don’t know what you don’t know. When someone breaks that cycle, they create opportunity not just for their family, but for everyone around them.”
Giving Back
Aaron says mortgages are more than just numbers; they’re about representation, service, and creating futures.
“Having more Cook Islanders and Pasifika in this space means we can open doors and shift mindsets around money and homeownership,” he says.
By sharing his story, he hopes to inspire families to believe that homeownership is achievable.
Today, success for Aaron isn’t about titles or wealth. “Success is having a loving wife, healthy kids, and my anau around me. That’s the real blessing.”
With his own leap of faith as proof, Aaron is showing Pasifika families that homeownership isn’t just a dream, it’s a goal that’s well within reach.
