Maxcare and Pasifika community unite for Heart Health Month

Published: 20 March 2026

The Pasifika community in South Auckland came together throughout February to celebrate Heart Health Month through a series of vibrant, culturally grounded events led by Maxcare Medical Centre - a Pacific led primary healthcare provider.

With Pasifika peoples at higher risk of heart disease, Maxcare’s month long programme focused on raising awareness, encouraging healthy habits, and creating safe, empowering spaces for discussions about heart health.

Their activities ranged from energetic Ura Fitness and Zumba sessions to regular social media posts sharing key heart healthy messages and tips.

A highlight of the month was Maxcare’s Healthy Heart Breakfast - which brought together around 130 community members for a morning of learning, connection, and storytelling. 

Attendees received free personal health checks - including blood pressure and diabetes testing - with participation far exceeding what the centre typically sees in an average week.

“At the breakfast, we wanted to raise awareness about the importance of heart health that included discussions about having regular health checks and taking medications to manage long-term conditions,” Maxcare’s Practice Administrator Denise Rairi said.

Sharing stories that inspire change

Heart Foundation Pacific Heartbeat team member Kokoi Aviu was invited as keynote speaker, sharing the work Pacific Heartbeat does to support Pasifika communities to live longer, healthier lives.

She highlighted insights from Pacific Heartbeat’s nutrition workshops, which offer practical, culturally tailored tools for making small but sustainable lifestyle changes.

“Kokoi’s presentation was amazing. It was interactive and very relatable, especially from a Pacific perspective.  Her examples of fat content in common foods were eye opening - there were a lot of ‘wows’ across the room. Pasifika people are visual learners, so seeing those examples really made them think twice,” Denise said.

The breakfast also showcased powerful personal testimonies that resonated deeply with attendees.  Maxcare’s Medical Director - Dr Poanere Tapukura Rairi, shared his own health story, while the Medical Centres Health Coach Dave Purcell spoke about living with type 2 diabetes and how turning that experience into strength now helps him support others.

Dave emphasised the importance of protecting the health of future generations by encouraging people to take action early through regular health checks, healthy lifestyles, and greater awareness of heart disease.

Kokoi said these moments were some of the most impactful.

 “Hearing our people share their experiences is powerful. It helps break down shame or embarrassment and replaces it with strength and pride. One of their health coaches used to come as a patient. He’s been open about having type 2 diabetes and now uses that story as his superpower, showing others the difference simple changes can make.”

Denise agreed, saying relatable, community driven events are essential for meaningful engagement. “We could hand out written resources, but who’s reading them? Having interactive events where our people share real stories they can relate to. That’s what truly inspires change.”
 

Working together for a healthier future

For Pacific Heartbeat, partnering with trusted community providers like Maxcare is vital to ensuring Pasifika communities receive heart health education that reflects their culture, values, and lived realities. 

Kokoi’s nutrition session left a lasting impression, with many attendees expressing interest in future Heart Foundation workshops.

Maxcare has also shown interest in enrolling their nurses in Pacific Heartbeat’s Certificate of Proficiency in Pacific Nutrition - a programme developed to strengthen cultural knowledge and enhance the delivery of nutrition education within Pacific communities.

“Collaborating with the Heart Foundation and Pacific Heartbeat was one of the best decisions we’ve made,” Denise said. “The positive response from our community shows how important it is to connect, share ideas, and work together for better heart health.”

Following their Heart Health Month activities, Maxcare and their Pasifika community raised more than $3,000 for the Heart Foundation - a gesture that deeply moved both Pacific Heartbeat and the Heart Foundation.

“It was a wonderful surprise to learn about the donation”, Kokoi said. “We were so moved and incredibly grateful for their generosity and the heart behind it.”