PPNA News

An invitation by MP Aupito Tofae Su'a William Sio to attend the 'Bula Sautu' launch at parliament on July 5th 2021, was graciously received by our PPNA Board.
The 'Bula Sautu' report looks at the life course of Pacific peoples and their experiences with the health system at every stage of life: maternity, child, youth and adult. Unfortunately it also highlighted the health inequities Pacific People continue to suffer in Aotearoa. The launch was opened by Rev Au Liko who moved by the statistics, challenged the MP's on their response to the findings.
It was a pleasure for our PPNA members' to contribute to the report with other health professionals throughout Aotearoa.
'Bula Sautu' is a collaboration between Dr Corina Grey, Dr Debbie Ryan, and Dr Api Talemaitoga for Pacific Perspectives, and the health Quality & Safety Commission.
To read the report in full go to:
https://www.hqsc.govt.nz/assets/Health-Quality-Evaluation/PR/BulaSautu_WEB.pdf
Fakaaue Lahi

Congratulations to Safaato'a (To'a) Fereti who was recognised for her outstanding contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of Pacific people. Our very own president who is also Clinical Nurse Director of Medicine at Countie's Manukau Health and Chair of the Nursing Council of New Zealand, won the Pasifika Futures Health and Wellbeing Award at the 2020 SunPix Pacific Peoples Awards. We have all been privileged to have To'a lead us in our association, and it was an honor to see all her hard work (usually behind the scenes) being recognised. Not one for the limelight, To'a shone at the awards and it was a special time to have all her family, including her Mum and brother (who flew in from Dunedin) sisters, brother-in-law and four children present with her. Also supporting as always, our esteemed matuas Fuimaono Karl Pulotu-Endemann and Aiolupotea Hilda Fa’asalele. Well done To'a, we are all very proud of you! Chehuu!

After the first unprecedented lockdown in New Zealand it was good to reconnect with Pacific nurses who had been working throughout Level 4. The request from our Prime Minister, Jacinda Adern to remain within your own "bubble" became a safety measure for the population of NZ. The basics of "handwashing" and the introduction of "social distancing" has also become a "norm" for not only NZ but in many other countries, globally. So the night was to network with each other and also to support our local businesses, who had to remain closed during Level 4. Thank you to everyone for joining us, especially Matafanu Hilda Faasalele, Abel Smith and Deborah Rowe.

THE RISING TIDE, had four key themes:
Responding to the effects of Climate Change; Turning ripples into waves-sharing new approaches to workforce development; Navigating the future towards
positive Mental Health and Turning the tide on Non-Communicable diseases.

The conference was made possible on Niue by Dr Colin Tukuitonga and was well attended by many health professionals including the Hon. Henry Puna, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. The opening of the conference by the Niue Primary School Ukulele group headed by their Principal Mrs Carol Edward's and Ukulele teacher Mrs OLove Hekesi, set the scene for the conference with the beautiful sound from the future of Niue. Presentations by all, showed the wealth of knowledge being shared, whilst the importance of the key themes remained at the forefront of the conference. It was good to have PPNA member Manogi Taviliniu-Eiao presenting on her Master's topic. Thank you to PMA and the Hakupu Village Council for hosting the closing ceremony with a traditional dinner. The week ended with the Moana Pacific Women's Network and Mrs Debbie Sorenson hosting the Women's Breakfast. Inspiring women to 'take as much space as we can' and to have those 'courageous conversations'. Fakaaue Lahi.

PPNA have been supporting Pacific NetP nurses since 2017, from funding through Health Workforce New Zealand Pacific People Support. We have provided mentoring and cultural support for Pacific nurses who have agreed to join the programme at Counties Manukau Health. Feedback from some of the mentees were: "Mentors are the best and the support for new grads in their journey is the most valuable thing for new nurses", "I love that this programme connects us with amazing nurses who are doing great things for our pacific communities and people", "Please ensure all Pacific New Grads are aware of this program".

Transforming Leadership
Nurses as Change Agents for Non Communicable Disease (NCD's) in the Pacific.

Thank you firstly to the Cook Island Nurses Association who did a fantastic job hosting the conference. It was a very informative week with three of our PPNA members presenting; Loli Mesepa Channing, Alisa Loimata Lilo-Ili and Pauline Fuimaono Sanders.

Pan Pacific Nurses Association had their official launch as a Twighlight Cocktail evening in April, 2016.

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