Success of our families is a success for NZ - Pasifika Futures

The importance of Pacific families living longer and better lives while succeeding in education was among the issues highlighted at the Pasifika Futures Whānau Ora Conference in Tāmaki Makaurau.

More than 200 delegates from across the motu gathered at the Dew Drop Centre in Manukau this week to celebrate 10 years of the Whānau Ora programme.

The Ananua Performing Arts Group welcomed the guests with a Turou, followed by an Ura Tabu Pacific Dance performance and a blessing from Reverend Hiueni Nuku, before PFL chair Dr Kiki Maoate opened the conference, acknowledging a decade of impact with the Whānau Ora programme.

April Kylie, president and chief executive of Southcentral Foundations (SCF), travelled from Alaska with her team to attend the conference.

Kylie shared SCF's integrated model of care, saying their success came from working together with their community and building strong relationships.

The two-day talanoa also emphasised financial freedom and health for Pasifika.

While highlighting the importance of spiritual health and well-being, Minister for Whānau Ora Tama Potaka called for the development of new tools to foster Pacific innovation.

He praised the Whānau Ora model's effectiveness in assisting families, given the current social, financial and mental pressures.

He thanked Pasifika Futures for their service during the Covid-19 pandemic, Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.

He also acknowledged the cultural practice of starting the hui with a karakia (prayer) and PFL Board Director, Sir Michael Jones’ decision not to play rugby on Sundays.

Potaka, who also holds ministerial portfolios for Māori Development, Conservation, Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti and Housing (Social Housing), acknowledged PFL's support for families with mental health through the Ngalu Fānifo programme.

He encouraged the agency to continue to look after "our young people and our matua (elderly)".

From left to right, Pasifika Futures CEO Debbie Sorensen, PFL board director Laáuli Sir Michael Jones, Whānau Ora Minister Tama Potaka, PFL board director Soana Pamaka and PFL board chair Dr Kiki Maoate.

Themed 'Pasifika Journeys', the conference offered PFL partners a chance to reflect on their service to families, and celebrate achievements and plans to continue serving Pacific aiga better, Maoate said.

"We have a family-centred approach to our work because our families must be part of the solution to their challenges.

"We’re in a fortunate position to listen and understand their needs and to play a role in them achieving success in various areas of their lives.

"We have reached 73,921 families (385,716 individuals) in the last decade and have no plans of slowing down.

"The success of our families is a success for New Zealand and we maintain our commitment to empowering and strengthening our communities," Maoate said.

He said since its inception, PFL has supported families and communities in critical areas such as education, employment, debt reduction, and cultural connection.

He said the emergency response, particularly during the pandemic, significantly increased families' access to PFL’s services with 239,783 people supported since 2020.

Director of F’INE Pasifika, Phylesha Brown-Acton, stressed the importance of using weaving as a communication tool for navigating difficult conversations.

F'INE is an LGBTQi+/MVPFAFF+ focussed charitable trust that provides Whānau Ora services to members of the rainbow community.

“Weaving is an indigenous concept, and we need to invite these cultural concepts into our workspace and practice.

"Be inspired to learn how to weave, and relate it to health and wellbeing - that is how we begin to overcome communication barriers,” Brown-Acton says, encouraging conference delegates.

Other talanoa included the Living Longer, Living Better Health Lives panel chaired by Etu Pasifika Auckland (EPA) GP, Dr Colin Beumelburg, Sonda Tepton - Vice President of Dental Services from Southcentral Foundation, Sioeli Brown - Health Coach from EPA, and John Tanuvasa owner of OHN Clothing and who is currently on a health journey with EPA.

Tanuvasa said Pacific people needed to be selfish with their health to be present for the generations to come.

Tepton touched on the importance of joy and its positive contribution towards improving health outcomes, while Brown shared that in his role as a health coach, his goal was to empower and have their customers lead their health journey.

Other contributors included PFL chief executive Debbie Sorensen, Otahuhu College principal Neil Watson, Tāmaki College principal Soana Pamaka, Sellina Sau, Latu Puloka, and Kensington Fifita who discussed the importance of education.

Sau, a navigator at Pacific Trust Otago, was a recent graduate of the inaugural micro credential course, led by the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Knowledge Hub and the University of Auckland.

She told the panel that even in her 40s, there was still much to learn and be educated about.

Puloka, the coordinator at the Oceania Career Academy (OCA), reflected on the wrap-around support that was needed for young people and how instrumental OCA’s service had been for their students.

Fifita, a Tāmaki College alumni, shared a refreshing perspective about how educators needed to take into account students’ personal lives and what could be affecting their studies.

The panellists were urged to ensure that Pacific families are equipped to live long, healthy lives and to thrive in all education pathways.

Four partners were honoured with Whānau Ora Awards: Keni Moeroa from Pacific Trust Otago - Courageous Leadership and Navigator Long Service Award, Aotearoa Tongan Health Workers Association - Core Performance Award, Oceania Career Academy - Innovation Performance Award, and Kuki Learning - Commissioning for Communities Performance Award.

The Pasifika Futures Whānau Ora Conference ended on Friday.