Pasifika Medical Association was honored to have experienced psychiatrist Dr Etuini Ma’u, present and contribute to the discussions pertaining to mental health, at the 2023 PMA Conference, held recently in the Cook Islands. Dr Ma’u shares with us his reflections and insights into the challenges that Pacific peoples face regarding mental health.

The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) and Te Marae Ora (TMO) Cook Islands Ministry of Health proudly announced their partnership at the 2023 PMA Conference in Aitutaki, Cook Islands. This significant event included the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between PMA and TMO, symbolising their shared commitment to addressing community priorities, extending beyond the healthcare sector.

The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) has endorsed their partnership with the New Zealand Ministry of Health's (MoH) Polynesian Health Corridors (PHC) programme at the 2023 PMA Conference in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Recently PMA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MoH regarding the programme to extend the impact of PMA and PHC's work and strengthen health systems in Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue, Tuvalu and Tokelau.

The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) awarded Life Member and Service Awards to a group of Cook Islands health leaders last night at the annual PMA Conference Dinner, acknowledging their significant contribution to the health needs of Pacific people in the region. 

Bellaraine (Bella) Hifo, a proud Tongan, is our Auckland office's Pasifika Medical Association Host. She greets everyone with a warm and polite smile when they enter the office. For Tongan Language Week, Bella shares her journey of how she grows and nurtures the Tongan culture.

Welcomed with a traditional Cook Islands turou, the Pasifika Medical Association’s (PMA) 27th annual conference has kicked off at the Avarua National Auditorium in Rarotonga, seeing esteemed guests and delegates from around the Pacific region welcomed with colour, vibrancy and the beating drums of the Cook Islands.

Stepping into the Tongan Medical Conference was like being welcomed home. Hearing my mother tongue proudly spoken, the sound of Tongan hymns echoing throughout the venue, and seeing our traditional Ta’ovala worn filled me with a sense of peace. This was not just a conference; it was an exploration of our heritage, our challenges as a nation, and our aspirations for a healthier future.

The 27th Annual Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Conference, comprising the largest assembly of Pacific health professionals, is set to take place in the Cook Islands from September 6 to September 8, 2023 in Rarotonga, and September 11, 2023 in Aitutaki; the first PMA conference hosted in the Pacific Islands since pre-Covid. The 2023 PMA Conference is delivered in partnership with the Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of Health.

We were privileged to sit down with recipient of last year's Papa'ali'i Dr Semisi Ma'ia'i Scholarship, Tatila Helu, as she shared a bit of her story and motivations behind pursuing a career in medicine. We also spoke to some of Tatila's family members who shared about some of their personal experiences as well as reflections about Tatila's journey to date.

The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) held its Fourth Annual Charity Ball last week at the Cordis Hotel in Auckland, bringing together 500 guests from around the country. The event featured a blend of live music, fine dining, stories from the families of scholarship namesakes and past recipients, and a highly-anticipated auction which raised $180,000 towards PMA’s Pacific Education Fund.

Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) recently deployed a team of five paediatric surgical specialists  to the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, Fiji, through the New Zealand Medical Treatment Scheme (NZMTS), which is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists illustrates the high prevalence of Pacific representation in the mental health statistics in Aotearoa as reported by the Mental Health and Addiction Inquiry – Pacific Report.