Our PMA Auckland office hosted a Market Day as part of Women's Health Week, celebrating Pacific women in business. This national awareness week shines a light on the many roles women play in society and the importance of ensuring their health and wellbeing are not overlooked. Under the theme of Empowering Women to Prioritise Their Health and Wellbeing, we spoke to some of our incredible vendors about what this means to them.

My name is Annette Garae and I come from a mixed parentage of Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea (PNG). My father is from the island of Ambae in Vanuatu and my late mum was from the Central Province in PNG.

Our Clinical Data Analyst, Natasha Watson, recently took part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), an immersive, live-in programme designed to foster leadership, teamwork, and communication among emerging young professionals.

PMA Member and Registered Nurse at the Auckland City Hospital, Karaia Teiwaki, shared some reflections in light of Kiribati Language Week.

In recognition of Dietitians Week NZ, we share the story of Finau Taungapea, Director of Health Services and Senior Dietitian at Pacific Trust Otago. Finau’s journey into nutrition and health promotion is deeply personal, sparked by the sudden loss of her father and her commitment to breaking the cycle of poor health in her own family.

Lilo Dr Oka Sanerivi, physiotherapist, academic, and PMA member, is the first Pacific PhD in Physiotherapy! 💥 For Men’s Health Week, he shares some light-hearted but practical insights, plus a bit of his own journey as a Pacific male in health. He is also a proud member of the Centre for Men’s Health at the University of Otago.

Talofa lava, meet Salima Dr Olataga Alofivae Doorbinnia who hails from Sa'anapu and Apolima. For Samoan Language Week, she shares her background as general practitioner living in Southwestern, Sydney.

Noa’ia ‘e Mauri, ‘Otou asa le Rowena Sokimi, faiaksea gagaj atakoa. Meet Rowena Sokimi who is of Rotuman, Fijian, Samoan and German heritage.

The Moana Pasifika Young Women’s Programme for high school girls kicked off today, with the vibrant energy of future leaders filling the room. The programme will run for three days and was opened with a special address from PMA Group and Moana Pasifika CEO, Debbie Sorensen ONZM.

After 50 long years, Ōtāhuhu College is back making waves in the rowing world, and leading the charge is former UCLA rower, Lanea Tuiasosopo. Through the Pasifika Futures (PFL) Sports Strategy, the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) donated brand-new uniforms for the team as the students prepared for the Blue Lakes Rowing Regatta in Rotorua, which took place over the weekend; Ōtāhuhu College was the only public South Auckland school participating.

Last night, the Fale Maama space was filled with pride, joy, and celebration as the latest cohort of students graduated from the microcredential course in partnership with the Pasifika Medical Association and the University of Auckland. This pioneering course, which aims to improve wellbeing outcomes for Pacific families, has made a lasting impact on the health and leadership of Pasifika communities.

Solomon Islands Language Week is a timely and important occasion to celebrate the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of the Solomon Islands, and to raise awareness about the challenges of preserving native languages in an ever-changing world. Dr Maryanne One’asi Harihiru Koraa’i, a paediatrician with a special interest in paediatric cardiology, is one such advocate for preserving her heritage.