“As climate change continues to reshape our world, Pacific communities face unique challenges that demand innovative health solutions.” – Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa.
In June, members of Le Va’s Public Health and Mental Health & Addiction teams were privileged to attend the Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa (Centre for Pacific and Global Health) Research Symposium – ‘From Vulnerability to Vitality: Global and Pacific Health responses in a changing climate’ at the University of Auckland’s Fale Pasifika.
The day brought together distinguished health leaders, Pacific researchers, health professionals and changemakers committed to advancing wellbeing and equity through Pacific-led knowledge, solutions and innovation.
Le Va’s Pasifika Equity Lead, Pakilau Manase Lua, gave a presentation on “Making Our Moana Healthy Again” as part of the Pacific Leadership stream, and the team was honoured to attend Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga’s inaugural professorial lecture, celebrating his service and leadership in Pacific and global health.
It was an inspiring day and wonderful for our team to reconnect with many of the presenters from Le Va’s recent Global Pacific Solutions 2025 conference, continuing the vital conversations around climate, culture and community.
Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa was established in April 2023 as the first University research centre dedicated to Pacific and global health solutions and leadership. With Prof. Sir Collin Tukuitonga at the helm, its mission is to transform and impact health for Pacific people in Aotearoa, in the Pacific region and globally.
For more than 16 years, Le Va’s purpose has been to support people of the moana to unleash their full potential. We do this by carefully designing and developing evidence-based resources, tools and support services for the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes.
Together, we move from vulnerability to vitality, driving action for thriving Pacific communities.
Changing the narrative, navigating challenging tides, calling out injustices and centring the voices of Tangata Moana.
In the public health space, Le Va is tasked with creating opportunities for the village to gather, bringing together our Pacific public health workforce and sector providers to strengthen capability and grow capacity. By nurturing these connections and building a thriving workforce, we ensure that “when the coconut tree bears fruit, the village is nourished, and the children will flourish.”
Day One
On Day One of GPS 2025, we were privileged to hear from a powerful line-up of Pacific thought leaders bringing deep expertise and an unwavering commitment to equity, justice and community wellbeing.
We opened with a powerful morning session led by three inspiring Samoan wāhine leaders who reminded us of the importance of putting the growing generation first and staying grounded in purpose.
As Dame Teuila Percival shared, “Don’t fall in love with your business cards or the organisations you work for – fall in love with the children.”
Dr Corina Grey challenged us to reframe how we understand and use data. She spoke to the harmful impact of Pacific people being continually positioned in deficit through statistics and reinforced the need for our communities to lead the analysis and interpretation of data. “For us, by us,” was a powerful call to reclaim narrative control, where Pacific insight and leadership can turn data into solutions, not stigma.
Malaetogia Dr Jacinta Fa’alili-Fidow shared her journey toward completing her PhD, Vā o Tamaiti – a relational resilience framework for Pacific child wellbeing, grounded in Pacific values.
In the afternoon session, Prof. Sir Collin Tukuitonga’s passion for future generations of health workers was admirable. He emphasised that, while political cycles may come and go, we are here to stay and our response must be long-term and grounded in equity, data, justice and Pacific values. His challenge to the sector: “Speak up. Speak out.”
Dr Sione Faletau reminded us that identity and culture are inseparable from wellbeing and that art is not just expression, but an embodiment of who we are as Tangata Moana.
Our Kava Korner was also a much loved feature, thank you to everyone who visited over the two days. A special shoutout to Four Shells Kava Lounge for generously providing the kava and creating space for attendees to connect through this meaningful cultural practice.
The End Game stream was more than a conversation, it was a reaffirmation of the collective strength within our communities, and the transformative power of Pacific leadership in shaping a healthier, more equitable future.
Day Two
Day Two of GPS 2025 brought strong advocacy, honest talanoa and lived experience to the centre. Our speakers challenged us to confront stigma, while elevating the strengths, resilience, and aspirations of our Pasifika disabled communities.
Leuluaiali’i Catherine Poutasi shared her deep expertise on funding models in the disability space, guiding organisations on how to effectively access and utilise funding to deliver better outcomes for our people.
Pakilau Manase Lua reminded us that cultural identity is central to wellbeing. His call was clear Pacific worldviews must be upheld, not sidelined, when shaping policy and services.
Nalei Taufa presented key insights gathered from Le Va’s national talanoa series with Pacific disabled communities. She challenged the system to protect our stories and act on our data, not simply collect it and let it sit unused.
We also celebrated an exciting announcement from Sara-Jane Elika, trustee of Foundation North. Sara-Jane confirmed a new partnership with Le Va, launching a dedicated pool of funding for Pacific disability community initiatives a major step forward in resourcing grassroots solutions led by our own communities.
Our Faiva Ora Community Innovation Fund recipients Joshua Peauafi, Daniel Te’o and Tara Aumalesulu showcased their community-led projects, each rooted in their passions, lived experience and cultural values. Their courage, innovation, and leadership lit up the room, reminding us that the solutions are already within our villages.
Over two impactful days in April, around 700 people joined together at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau for Le Va’s Global Pacific Solutions 2025 conference – uniting Pacific leaders, academics, international guest speakers, workforce and community members in a tour de force of strengths-based solution seeking.
Bringing to light tough topics such as child trafficking, suicide prevention, climate change, child sexual abuse, equity for disabled people and the ever-growing demand for mental health and addiction support workers, GPS 2025 was an event that opened minds, challenged the status quo and inspired hope for all who attended.
At times, the audience was moved to tears upon hearing transformative stories of overcoming adversity, fighting for justice and connecting to culture in a way that enhances our true selves.
Inspirational plenary speakers and breakout presenters communicated passionately, sharing their expertise to advance the knowledge of all who listened.
When opening the ‘Nurturing our Children’ plenary panel at GPS 2025, Le Va’s chief executive, Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave, said, “It is both an honour and a solemn responsibility to welcome you to today’s panel discussion on child sexual abuse and child trafficking across the wider Pacific.
“This is a conversation that demands our full attention, our collective expertise and most importantly, our unwavering commitment to action.
“The Pacific is home to diverse and resilient communities, but it is not immune to the global crises of child sexual exploitation and trafficking.”
We know that the solutions lie within our communities – GPS 2025 was an opportunity to bring together into one space the hearts, spirits and minds of hundreds of people, all eager to ignite change and promote the power of Indigenous intelligence.
Over the coming weeks, Le Va will be sharing many of the insights and solutions that were explored throughout Global Pacific Solutions 2025, with gratitude to everyone who was present and contributed to this important kaupapa.
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“Pacific Nurses: Contributing to the Economy of Care” was theme for the Pacific Nursing Section Symposium and AGM 2024, held in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland on 11 October and sponsored by Le Va.
The event brought together several generations of Pacific nurses and inspirational keynote speakers to network and share insights about the current and future state of healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ben Tameifuna, Le Va’s cultural lead and senior manager for public health and disability, opened the day by honouring senior Pasifika nurses with a powerful challenge:
“One of the main priorities for Le Va is to build the capacity and capability of the Pacific public health workforce ensuring we are carrying on the legacy that is already there. Ask yourself what is your legacy?
“What would you like to be remembered for in nursing and what will you leave behind for the next generation of nurses? As the well-known quote goes, ‘What you leave behind is not what is written on your headstone, but what is woven into the lives of others.’”
Sir Collin Tukuitonga, Associate Dean Pacific at the Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, and Paul Goulter, Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Nursing Organisation, shared valuable insights on leadership and the vital contributions Pacific nurses make to the healthcare sector in Aotearoa.
It was inspiring for our Pacific nurses to be in a room filled with their peers and to hear from those with more than 40 years of experience as well as aspiring nursing students, excited to enter the workforce.
Ana-Malie Poe said, “It really was an honour to be able to experience one of these Symposiums for Pacific Nurses as a student. I was so encouraged and felt so empowered to be surrounded by such amazing, strong Pacific Nurses… Thank you so much for encouraging us students to keep going and knowing we have the most amazing support behind us makes the journey so much more worthwhile, carrying on that legacy.”
Le Va was honoured to support this symposium in collaboration with the Tongan Nurses Association and the Pacific Nursing Section. We look forward to future collaboration in the public health space.
The conference featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Le Va’s general manager, Dr Elizabeth Mati, who participated in the panel “Priorities, aspirations, and the future state of public health in Aotearoa New Zealand. Where to from here?”
Dr Mati and Ben Tameifuna, Le Va’s senior manager for public health and disability, enjoyed connecting with others who are leading in the public health space in Aotearoa. They found the two days of talanoa about a vision for the future of public health in New Zealand to be insightful and valuable.
Following the event, Dr Mati said, “As always, we know that the solutions lie within our communities and that we must equip them with the right supports and resources to enable our communities to achieve the best possible health and wellbeing outcomes. Thank you to the CEO of PHANZ, Dr Cadence Kaumoana, for inviting Le Va to the Annual Public Health Conference 2024.”
Le Va supports public health initiatives by trying to reduce inequity in health outcomes through workforce development. Learn more about our public health work: Supporting the public health workforce.
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