At Healthy Families South Auckland, Pacific and Māori communities are at the heart of our kaupapa.
The work is grounded in understanding the communities of South Auckland. This means not just their challenges, but also their aspirations, motivations, and strengths.
In May, our team deepened that journey through a talanoa with Sa’uila Dr Sonny Natanielu held at Ōrākei Community Centre.
The talanoa began by reflecting on the origins of those whose whakapapa is tied to the Pacific. Sonny led an exploration in how ancestors used ocean-based science and traditional knowledge systems to navigate the vast Pacific Ocean. These ancient voyagers were not only expert navigators but also carriers of deep genealogical, cultural and spiritual wisdom.
This shifted the talanoa to the present. The traumas of colonisation, globalisation, and disconnection were discussed, acknowledging how these forces disrupted Pacific peoples’ ties to land, language, and identity. Yet through it all, the legacy of resilience and mana continues, as these communities strive to reconnect and restore identity in Aotearoa.
A key theme throughout was Va (or vā in Samoan; wā in te reo Māori), the sacred space between people.
“We often view ourselves through a negative lens – but to help us, you must first change how you see us,” says Sa’uila Dr Sonny Natanielu. “Health isn’t just physical; it’s relational, emotional, and spiritual. The Va is not empty as it carries meaning, connection, and responsibility. It must be nurtured.”
The team explored the ethic of tausi le vā, the act of nurturing sacred relational space.
“Our values are not just written down, they are lived out every day,” said Ray Tuala, Lead Systems Innovator for Healthy Families South Auckland. “Our role is to integrate Pacific ways of knowing into the systems we’re part of, making sure our communities can access what they need, when they need it, to live well.”
From healthy kai and lifestyle initiatives to reshaping public health systems, Healthy Families South Auckland’s kaupapa is about long-term systems change. As Auckland’s Pacific population continues to grow, investing now means healthier futures, stronger connections, and better outcomes for all.
“As Pacific peoples, we need to be at the forefront of shaping the policies and systems that impact our health and wellbeing,” says Ray.
“Too often, decisions are made without our voices in the room and that leads to solutions that don’t reflect our realities. Whether it’s local government initiatives or central government programmes, our communities must be involved from the start. We bring knowledge, lived experience, and cultural insight that can strengthen the entire public health system.”
Ray believes that meaningful engagement goes beyond consultation: “It’s about genuinely co-designing solutions with Pacific communities, and not just unilaterally determining solutions for them. Public health is not just what happens in hospitals but it’s in our homes, places of worship, workplaces, schools, and neighbourhoods.”
“If we want to see long-term change, we have to influence the environments and systems that shape daily life.”
