Stories

Food plays an important role in Pacific culture. We cook it to show our love and eat it to show appreciation. Some people may think it’s not easy to teach Pacific people about the role food plays in their health. After all, it’s sometimes quantity over quality. Our Pacific nutrition…

For the Lilo’s, staying fit and healthy is a family passion. Natasha (mum), Joshua (dad), Laelani (daughter), and Uncle David, had all been part of health and fitness groups over the years so they started working out together in their Mangere backyard. But they soon decided it was time to…

Lee Hukui, Personal Trainer and Certificate in Pacific Nutrition graduate Earlier this year, 32 staff from Inland Revenue took part in the Manukau Collections’ 50-day Healthy Lifestyle Challenge. Staff participated in pairs, so that they could support each other and submit a combined weight-loss result. The aim of the Challenge…

Faaniniva (teacher) and students from the Agape Aoga Amata Preschool There are so many great things about this little country of ours. However, one thing we can’t be proud of is our astronomical rate of childhood obesity. New Zealand has the third highest rate of obesity out of 34 countries…

It’s well known that New Zealand’s Pacific population suffers higher rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease than the general population. But until now, most of the evidence for this has come from Auckland, which is why Dr Allamanda Faatoese is turning her attention to the South Island…

FitComm New Lynn Class A family-friendly exercise group in Auckland is proving that getting fit doesn’t have to be boring. FitComm Health and Fitness NZ (FitComm) is all about breaking down barriers and making exercise less intimidating, says founder Ron Hellesoe. “People keep coming back and numbers keep growing because…

For Uilinitone Vaoesea (aka Uili), breakfast used to be coffee – nothing else. Lunch was usually some kind of takeaway meal and healthy eating was not something he gave much thought to. But that all changed recently, when Uili and his colleague Manuele Lui completed the Certificate in Pacific Nutrition…

As far as Lani knows she is the only Pacific nurse working in the area of cardiac secondary prevention in Auckland. Secondary prevention aims to stop people who have had a heart event (or attack) from having another one. The Pacific secondary prevention programme was initiated after Counties Manukau District…

Freda Hausi with her father, Maka Hausi and cousin Chris Moale I’m often asked ‘What do we do at Pacific Heartbeat’ and I like to share Freda’s story as an example. I’ve asked Freda repeatedly over the years if I could share her story, and on every occasion she humbly…

Then it was suggested that I use the Heart Foundation sapasui recipe and I started to feel resentment at the palagi nutritionists telling me to change my Samoan dish. Why be fia poto (want to be smart) with a dish that’s worked for years? It made me realise that this…

The 8-week challenge is run by the West Fono Health Trust’s, Enua Ola Church Programme and takes place from 6 May to 30 June. Its goal is to increase Pacific health and wellbeing. Triscilla Lurch shares her church’s story: “Being Samoan, Aiga (family) means everything to us so we included…

Left to right: Teresa Leiataua-Atoa, PHB Nutritionist Sue Pirrit, and Krystal Oriana Atoa-Lavea We’ve dubbed Teresa and Krystal the Lotu Moui Good Fairies as we met up with them again at the Lotu Moui, Mother’s Evening in May where they were dressed as pink fairies in recognition of Breast Cancer…