THE Pacific has the knowledge, wherewithal and expertise to deal with national health challenges.
This was evident at the Te Poutoko Ora Kiwa Research Symposium 2026.
Held at Auckland’s Fale Pasifika, the event brought together experts from across the region to talk about health issues under the theme Insights to Action: Research that strengthens health and solutions across Aotearoa and the Pacific.
Co-Director Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga, set the stage in his opening remarks.
“What we are seeing now is Pacific research coming into its own shaped by our values, accountable to our communities, and focused on real-world impact,” he said.
One of those impacts is being realized in the fight against cervical cancer.
There are positive signs though, given that 79 to 82 per cent of women are now volunteering to take the HPV self-tests, enabling Pacific women to take an active role in their own health care. Dr Ai Ling Tang CNZM a gynaecological oncologist from the University of Sydney, said there is still room for improvement however, as radiotherapy is not always readily available and transferring patients overseas can be a logistical challenge.
Despite these vast distances that make operating across the Pacific a challenge, one thing that does bind our Pasifika people together is the sense of community, which is particularly helpful when dealing with the challenge of mental health.
There has always been stigma associated with the issue, but Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau while facilitating the panel Mental Health Across the Pacific said that trust, relationships and community engagement would be essential keys to making a difference in the mental health space.
An approach that would enable better data collection and help build home-grown expertise – important for culturally appropriate approaches.
A Pacific symposium wouldn’t be complete without mention of the ever real danger posed by Climate Change. It is already something that is not an abstract issue for countries in our region with Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Marshall islands already at risk from sea level rise and salt water inundation. Pacific people are being negatively impacted mentally and physically, with the implications highlighted during the Climate Crisis: Implications for Wellbeing discussion. Climate Change therefore should be recognized as having a direct impact on health and responses need to be holistic and culturally appropriate.
Going forward the key message was that any solutions need to continue to be Pacific-centric. Cultural values and beliefs will always influence how health engagement happens at the community level. Not being mindful of this would cause any actions taken to be an exercise in futility. There were consistent calls for more Maori and Pacific health workers, culturally appropriate care and incorporation of Pacific values and lived experience into health services.
Tukuitonga summed it up:
“We have the knowledge, we have the tools, and we have strong leadership in the Pacific. The task now is to align our efforts and move forward together.”
