Suva, Fiji: People in Fiji have a hard time identifying what their needs and wants are, and that is why so many people end up borrowing from loan sharks and never get out a cycle of debt, says ANZ Corporate Responsibility manager Vosawale Tamani.

As the founder of the financial literacy programme called Money Minded Pacific, she said a change in behaviour was needed.

“There is a need to change the mindset of people in Fiji so they can have a better understanding of how to save money so there is enough money for the family and the more important things,” Mrs Tamani said.

The Fiji woman, now based in Melbourne, said it was not culture that led to overspending and financial hardship, but failure to know where to draw the line.

“Culture is what defines us and to think that culture could be part of the problem is wrong.

“People in the Pacific, which includes Fiji, overspend and make poor decisions when it comes to money" she said.

Mrs Tamani said poor decisions often pushed people into debt, with many unable to pay off it.

This was one of the reasons why she and her colleagues developed Money Minded Pacific.

“The programme will be taken down to the community,” she said.

Mrs Tamani said a timeframe had not been set yet because there were a few other things to consider and policies to develop.

She said she hoped the programme would reach the community by next year and people would be able to make sound decisions in relation to money.