Pasifika communities in New Zealand — Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Cook Islander, Niuean, and other Pacific peoples — face significant health disparities. Higher rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health challenges reflect both biological risk and social determinants including poverty, housing, and access to services. This guide covers the key funding sources for Pasifika health in New Zealand.
Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) is the primary government funder:
- Pacific community grants: Funding for Pacific community organisations including health
- Fatupaepae Fund: Pacific women's wellbeing
- Pacific youth: Youth health and wellbeing
- Pacific sports: Sport as health vehicle
MPP is the first port of call for Pacific community health grant applications.
Te Whatu Ora Pacific health investment:
- Pacific Provider Development Fund: Funding for Pacific health providers
- Pacific health services: Pacific community clinics and health services
- Pacific workforce: Pacific health worker training and employment
- Health equity: Pacific-specific health outcome tracking
Pacific primary health providers:
- Pacific Levu (Auckland): Pacific primary health
- Tongan Health Society: Tongan community health
- Samoan community health: Samoan-specific health services
- Fono Health (Auckland): Pacific community health
Pacific health providers deliver culturally appropriate care with high trust.
Gaming trusts fund Pasifika health:
- Four Winds Foundation: Pacific community health programmes
- Grassroots Trust: Community health including Pacific communities
- Pub Charity: Community health
- Lion Foundation: Pacific community health
Gaming trust Pasifika health applications:
- Diabetes management programmes for Pacific communities
- Cardiovascular risk screening events
- Community cooking and nutrition
- Pacific mental health support groups
Pacific health conditions:
- Diabetes: Type 2 diabetes rates 3-4x higher than NZ European
- Cardiovascular disease: Higher rate of heart disease
- Rheumatic fever: Pacific children significantly affected
- Gout: High rates in Pacific men
- Obesity: Significant overweight and obesity burden
Rheumatic fever is a priority Pacific health issue:
- Te Whatu Ora: Rheumatic fever prevention programme
- School-based sore throat management: Preventing group A streptococcal infection
- Rheumatic heart disease: Echo screening and treatment
- Pasifika focus: Pacific children most affected
Mental health for Pacific communities:
- Te Whatu Ora: Pacific mental health services
- Pacific mental health providers: Culturally appropriate services
- Church-based support: Community mental health in church settings
- Suicide prevention: Pacific youth suicide prevention
Pacific health workforce development:
- Kia Ora Hauora: Pacific health workforce scholarships
- Pacific nursing: Nursing training support
- Pacific doctors: Medical training and return pathways
- Community health workers: Pacific CHWs in priority communities
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Community leadership: Pacific people leading Pacific health
- Cultural competency: Fa'a Samoa, Pasifika values embedded in service
- Population served: Pacific people by ethnicity, age, and health condition
- Chronic disease: Diabetes, cardiovascular, and rheumatic fever outcomes
- Mental health: Culturally appropriate Pacific mental health
- Community trust: High trust relationship between provider and community
- Workforce: Pacific health workers in the team
- Equity: Health outcomes improving for Pacific communities over time
Tahua's grants management platform helps Pasifika health organisations manage grant applications across Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Te Whatu Ora, gaming trusts, and community funders, tracking Pacific health outcomes, chronic disease management, and cultural wellbeing.