Tongan trailblazer in medicine paves way for future generations

One of New Zealand’s first Tongan orthopaedic surgeons says her achievement reflects faith, her family, and cultural pride, inspiring future Pacific medical professionals.

Born in Vava‘u, Dr Supilate Mikaele hails from the villages of Makave and Kameli, with roots in Ha‘ano and Lofanga in Ha‘apai. Her journey has been challenging, grounded in perseverance and deep cultural values.

“I worked at The Warehouse, which meant sacrificing study time, and I failed a few assignments because of it,” she tells PMN Tonga. “Coming from Tonga, I wasn’t only learning English as a second language but also medical terminology.”

Mikaele is the eldest of five siblings and moved to Aotearoa New Zealand, at the age of 11 with her family, settling in South Auckland.

After graduating from McAuley High School, she completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Auckland. She was awarded the Pasifika Medical Association’s Dr Leopino Foliaki University of Auckland Scholarship.

For the past year, she has worked in the orthopaedic ward at Middlemore Hospital.

Pacific orthopaedics focusing on hip and spine surgery during a specialised training. Photo/Pacific Community

The sacrifices made by her parents are the driving force behind her success. “They tried very hard for me not to feel the burden of our financial struggles, but you could kind of see it in their faces.

“Now that I have graduated, I can see how tired they are and how much they have aged because of the hard work they put into us.”

Mikaele’s passion for medicine started in Tonga, inspired by her late grandfather. Her love of sport also guided her towards orthopaedics. “I used to picture myself being the hero who would run in and look after injured players.”

Watch Supilate Mikaele's interview below.

The four golden pillars of Tongan values - respect (faka‘apa‘apa), humility (anga fakatokilalo), nurturing relationships (tauhi vā), and passion (mamahi‘i me‘a) are her compass of guiding principles.

“My family ensured that we held on to our Tongan values, and I was taught that being Tongan was a superpower,” she says. “That’s been my approach since.”

When she finally received the long-awaited call confirming her acceptance into the orthopaedic training programme, it was a bittersweet moment as she was mourning the loss of her young nephew.

“That’s another thing I love about being Tongan. It’s never really about you and you can’t escape responsibilities,” she says. “But I feel relieved if anything. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Despite her achievements, Mikaele remains humble. “At work it’s celebrated, but at home I’m still the same daughter and sister.”

The next five years will be dedicated to completing her training at Middlemore and Auckland City hospitals. But Mikaele’s long-term vision extends far beyond.

Photo/LDR

“The dream is to set up my own community clinic, and also return to Tonga to work in the hospitals there,” she says.

“For now, I want to be the best I can be, so I can serve South Auckland and beyond.”

She hopes that her journey will inspire other young Tongans, especially women, to pursue careers in the medical field.

“The journey is tough, but not impossible. The job can be demanding, but you won’t walk it alone.”