HRC Pacific News - Health Research Council

September 2010
Socio-cultural factors associated with food security
and physical activity for Māori and Pacific people
in Aotearoa New Zealand
Recently completed qualitative research by the Pacific Section, Mäori Section and the
Social Policy Research Unit of the Family Centre has shed light on the socio-cultural
factors associated with food security and physical activity for Mäori and Pacific people
in Aotearoa New Zealand. This research was part of the HRC Partnership Programme
co-funded by the HRC and the Ministry of Health.
The researchers involved in this project were:
Taimalieutu Kiwi Tamasese and Tafaoimalo Loudeen
Parsons (Pacific research); Ms Maria Maniapoto (Mäori
research); Dr Peter King and Charles Waldegrave.
The Pacific research used the fa’afaletui methodology in
focus groups and interviews to identify and investigate
Pacific-based meanings of food and physical activity,
the social practices associated with them, and the
relationship between these factors and Pacific
conceptions of wellbeing and the well self.
Wellbeing and the well self were both understood
and discussed in relational terms and linked to the
practices associated with the production, preparation,
distribution and consumption of food, and the physical
activity involved in those practices. Wellbeing and
the well self were consequently derived from and
defined in terms of relational arrangements in areas
such as harmonious family and wider community
relationships, spirituality, access to food, exercise,
income and shelter.
A key finding of the research was that physical activity
in the Pacific nations is perceived to be closely linked
to the production of wealth and increased family
prosperity, and that this perception did not match the
contemporary health promotion message that physical
activity is closely associated with improving and
maintaining health and wellbeing.
The Pacific research identified a disconnection between
meanings, practices, and forms of capital existing
in Aotearoa New Zealand, and those originating in
the affluent subsistence economic and socio-cultural
milieu of the Pacific. This disconnection, coupled with
socioeconomic and political factors, can lessen the
effectiveness of traditional restraints and restrictions
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa
(From left to right) Tafaoimalo Loudeen Parsons, Taimalieutu Kiwi Tamasese,
Charles Waldegrave and Dr Peter King
on food consumption in the New Zealand context.
Another key finding was that while these material
bases, or forms of capital do not exist in New Zealand
for Pacific people, the symbolic significance of many
non-material forms and types of capital that originate
in the Pacific nations such as churches, aiga and motu
communities continue to provide a basis for culturally
based initiatives to counter the cultural dislocation
experienced by Pacific people in New Zealand.
Examples of such non-material forms of capital, or
social and cultural capital, are found in various Pacific
based institutions in New Zealand and the people
who lead and belong to them, an important example
being the Pacific churches. These have become core
institutions of inclusion for Pacific people in New
Zealand, gathering places and sites of belonging. In
recent years, the churches have become locations for
Pacific community programmes on wellbeing, health
and physical activity. Both fa’afaletui focus groups
and individual interviews pointed to the churches as
leaders of programmes and practices of wellbeing,
healthy eating and physical activity.
(Continued on page 6)
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa

Message from the PIHRC Chair
Malo ni, Fakatalofa atu, Malo e lelei, Kia Orana, Fakalofa lahi atu, Ni Sa Bula and warm Pacific greetings!
On behalf of the Pacific Health Research Committee
I wish to extend a very warm welcome to readers of
HRC Pacific News.
In this issue of the HRC Pacific newsletter we announce
funding results for 2010, the Queen’s Birthday
Honours awards, highlight Pacific researchers in two
high caliber HRC funded research projects, and briefly
showcase the 2010 Pacific health research roadshows.
The 2010 HRC funding results announced in June saw
a significant increase in funding for Pacific childrens’
health. This is a great boost to health research in this
priority area. Other good news is that Dr Francis
Agnew and Dr Teuila Percival received Queen’s
Birthday Honours awards in recognition of the work
they have undertaken in Pacific health.
Research projects with a focus on ‘enhancing food
security’ and ‘socio-cultural factors associated with
food security’ are highlighted including the work of
Pacific researchers Dr Ausaga Fa’asalele Tanuvasa,
Tolotea Lanumata, Taimalieutu Kiwi Tamasese and
Tafaoimalo Loudeen Parsons.
The Pacific health roadshows were again a success.
These were held throughout the country from 8 - 22
July. I wish to thank: Dr Tai Sopoaga, Tofilau Nina
Kirifi-Alai and Ms Audrey Santana from the University
of Otago; Dr Ausaga Fa’asalele Tanuvasa and Mr Kasi
Muaiava from Victoria University of Wellington; Mr
Kupa Kupa and Ms Sipaia Kupa of the New Zealand
Tokelau Association, Dr Teuila Percival and Dr
Malakai Ofanoa from The University of Auckland;
Ms Pauline Winters and Dr Gerhard Sundborn from
AUT University; and Mr Sunlou Luivaie from Massey
University for hosting the roadshows. Without your
HRC Pacific News September 2010
2
Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop
help the roadshows would have not been a success.
Finally, we were sad to accept the resignation of Dr
Margaret Southwick from the Pacific Health Research
Committee after serving her term on the Committee,
and contributing to the HRC’s Pacific Health Research
portfolio for well over a decade. Faafetai lava Margaret
for your service, commitment to Pacific health and for
the knowledge you have generously shared. Go well.
Soifua
Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop
Chair
Pacific Health Research Committee
Caption correction
In the May 2010 issue of HRC Pacific News, we published the photograph shown at left
to accompany the story Distinguished Pacific scholar inspired by parents dream.
Unfortunately the caption attributed to this photograph was incorrect. The caption
should have read:
Emele-Moa Teo* (Sa Petaia and Sa Atoa) from Tanugamanono with (left to right) Jimmy,
Mabel, Rex, Alfred and Ian in 1943 (Tamaitai Samoa: Their Stories, Institute of Pacific
Studies, USP Suva, KIN Publications, Carson City, California 1998).
* Emele-Moa Teo is Tagaloatele Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop’s mother.
The HRC Pacific News editorial team apologises for this error and any concern it may
have caused our readers.
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa

The Enhance project: enhancing food security
and physical activity for Pacific, Māori and lowincome
peoples
Both food security 1 and physical activity have been identified as key issues for improving the
health and well-being of New Zealanders.
The Enhance research project looked at the contribution
and interaction of various environmental factors to
food security and physical activity for Pacific, Mäori
and low-income peoples. The research also identified
how these factors might be modified to improve food
security and physical activity for these groups. 1
The project was jointly funded by the HRC and
the Ministry of Health and led by the Clinical Trials
Research Unit at The University of Auckland. Other
research partners were the Health Promotion and Policy
Research Unit, the University of Otago, Wellington; Te
Hotu Manawa Mäori; and the GeoHealth Laboratory
at the University of Canterbury.
The Enhance research team was multi-cultural,
including Pacific and Mäori researchers, and multidisciplinary.
This diversity enabled the project to
address issues for Mäori and Pacific peoples from
their perspective, and to explore a wide range of
environmental factors and potential interventions. The
research also provided an excellent opportunity for
development of the health research workforce.
Dr Ausaga Fa’asalele Tanuvasa (Samoa) was a coinvestigator
on the Enhance research team. Building
a vibrant Pacific research capacity and capability,
including mentoring Pacific researchers is a key
focus for Ausaga. This focus led to the appointment
of Tolotea Lanumata (Tonga) in September 2007 as a
research fellow to work on the Enhance project. Tolotea
conducted interviews and wrote the findings with
support from Ausaga. As a result of this project, Tolotea
is undertaking an HRC funded PhD, investigating
Pacific perspectives on promoting children’s healthy eating.
The Enhance research results suggested three key areas
to intervene to enhance food security (availability of
money within households, the cost of food and food
purchasing factors), and two key areas with regards
to physical activity (improvements to urban design,
the development of culturally-specific physical
activity programmes). This resulted in a ‘portfolio’ of
interventions to enhance food security and physical
activity for Pacific, Mäori and low-income people.
1 Food security is defined as the assured access to sufficient food that is
nutritious, of good quality, safe, and meets cultural needs, and has been
acquired in socially acceptable ways.
HRC Pacific News September 2010
3
Dr Ausaga Fa’asalele Tanuvasa and Ms Tolotea Lanumata
The research team also put forward a range of ideas that
might enhance food security and physical including:
• Strengthening of policies to ensure full and correct
benefit entitlements for all beneficiaries;
• Regulation of fringe credit lenders, to increase
protection for the most vulnerable people in our
community (e.g. Pacific people on a low income), to
leave them potentially less indebted and with more
money available to spend on food;
• Continued support for culturally-specific physical
activity programmes while the evidence base is
building; and
• Further targeted research to explore the influence
of the built environment on physical activity and
related health outcomes.
This project will also inform the future development
and implementation of effective interventions to tackle
these important issues for high-priority population
groups.
For more information and a copy of the Enhance
research report go to: http://www.ctru.auckland.
ac.nz/index.php/research-programmes/nutritionphysical-activity/132.
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa

Queen’s Birthday Honours 2010
HRC Pacific News September 2010
Dr Frances Agnew,
from the Waitemata
District Health
Board, was made a
Member of the New
Zealand Order of
Merit for services to
the Pacific Islands
community.
Dr Frances Agnew Dr Teuila Percival
Contact the Manager,
Pacific Health Research
Ms Everdina Fuli
Manager, Pacific Health Research
Email: efuli@hrc.govt.nz
Phone: (09) 303 5225
Mobile: 021 588 155
Website: www.hrc.govt.nz
Physical address: 110 Stanley Street, Grafton,
Auckland, New Zealand
Postal address: PO Box 5541, Wellesley Street,
Auckland 1141, New Zealand
Upcoming closing dates
Annual Funding Round:
29 September 2010
Registration - Projects, Emerging Researcher First
Grant, Feasibility Study Grant and Programme
Extension
12 October 2010
Expressions of Interest - Projects
29 October 2010
Full Application - Emerging Researcher First Grant,
Feasibility Study Grant and Programme Extension
7 December 2010
Registration - Programmes
1 February 2011
Full Application - Programmes
4
About HRC Pacific
News
Current and past issues of HRC Pacific News can be
viewed on the HRC website: www.hrc.govt.nz.
Contributions are welcome. All articles in HRC
Pacific News may be reprinted, provided the source
is acknowledged.
If you would like to subscribe to HRC Pacific News,
please email info@hrc.govt.nz, put ‘Subscribe HRC
Pacific News’ in the header and include your name
and mailing address details. You can also use this
email address to advise us if you no longer wish to
receive HRC Pacific News.
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 303 5200 Fax: +64 9 377 9988
Level 3, 110 Stanley Street, Auckland
PO Box 5541 Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141
New Zealand
www.hrc.govt.nz
ISSN 1171-4069 (Print)
ISSN 1171-3976 (Online)
Dr Teuila Percival,
from The University
of Auckland, was
made a Companion
of the Queen’s
Service Order for
services to the
Pacific Islands
community.
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa

Release of HRC’s new
Investment Signals
The HRC has established four Research Investment
Streams for the 2011/12 funding round.
Title of Research Investment Stream
Brief description of purpose
Health and Wellbeing in New Zealand
Keeping populations healthy and independent
throughout life
Improving Outcomes for Acute and
Chronic Conditions in New Zealand
Improving outcomes for people with illness or
injury
New Zealand Health Delivery
Improving health and disability service delivery
outcomes over the short-to-medium term
Rangahau Hauora Mäori
Supporting Mäori health research that upholds
rangatiratanga and utilises and advances Mäori
knowledge, resources and people
Pacific Health Research roadshows 2010
This year the HRC’s Pacific Health Research Manager,
Everdina Fuli, visited eight tertiary institutions for the
Pacific Health Research roadshows, held from 8 – 20
July.
The Pacific Health Research roadshows are annual
event for the HRC and this year focused on informing
people about the HRC’s Pacific Career Development
Awards and annual funding round.
An estimated 200 people attended the roadshows,
held at Victoria University of Wellington, Massey
University, Palmerston North, AUT University, the
University of Canterbury, the University of Otago,
Dunedin, The University of Auckland, and the Tokelau
Nurses Association in Porirua.
The roadshows are an opportunity for Pacific
researchers to find out about the funding available
and how to access this funding. Issues discussed
at the roadshows were predominantly related to
HRC Pacific News September 2010
Indicative
Budget
% ($M)*
70%
($35M)
20%
($10M)
10%
($5M)
* Percentage of total indicative budget (not fixed) and estimated
amount available for new Projects and Programmes.
An Investment Signal has been developed for each
Research Investment Stream (RIS). Further information
about the RISs and the Investment Signals is available
on the HRC website, www.hrc.govt.nz.
5
Pacific health
development workshop
On 29 July 2010 individuals from various government
organisations from around the country were invited by
Professor Don Roberts, Pro-Vice Chancellor, and Dr Tai
Sopoaga, Associate Dean (Pacific) from the University
of Otago, Dunedin, to attend a workshop held at
the Division of Health Sciences. The purpose of the
workshop was to discuss Pacific health development
within the wider context of the University and,
importantly, the enhancement of its work with
Pacific students, staff, the Pacific community, health
organisations and the wider health workforce and
research sector in New Zealand. Dr Tai Sopoaga will
use the information discussed at the workshop to
develop a Pacific strategic framework for the Division
of Health Sciences at the University of Otago.
the assessment criteria and eligibility for accessing
the awards. Participants with enquires relating to
the research application were advised, in the first
instance, to contact their respective Research Offices
for assistance with this.
Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai, Audrey Santana and Christine
Anesone, from the University of Otago, Dunedin
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa

Increased funding for Pacific childrens’ health
Pacific children will benefit from HRC funding for research into key health issues
affecting Pacific children, including hearing, bronchiolitis and high hospitalisation
rates.
“The significant investment in Pacific health research
in the 2010 HRC annual funding round will contribute
to improved quality of life for disadvantaged Pacific
children in New Zealand,” said HRC Chief Executive,
Dr Robin Olds.
Utilising an existing cohort study of 1,376 Pacific
families that have been followed over several years,
Professor Philip Schluter from AUT University will
assess hearing in 11 year-old Pacific children. In New
Zealand many more Pacific children fail the school
entry hearing screen and experience greater levels
of middle ear disease and hearing difficulties than
any other ethnic group. However, the effect of this
disproportionate burden and the long-term impact of
Pacific childrens’ hearing difficulties on their health
and scholastic achievements is largely unknown. The
research will help develop interventions and policies
aimed at reducing health inequalities, and participants
with hearing impairments will be offered specialist
treatment.
Bronchiolitis, an often serious lung infection affecting
young children, is the leading cause of infant
hospitalisation. Admission rates are 3-5 times higher
for Mäori and Pacific children, the cause of which
is not fully understood. Dr Tristram Ingham from
the University of Otago, Wellington, will explore
underlying risk factors contributing to the disparities
seen for Mäori and Pacific children and will also
investigate whether vitamin D deficiency is associated
with increased bronchiolitis severity.
Disadvantaged children with limited accessibility
to healthcare and preventive measures, suffer
disproportionately from preventable diseases. This
often translates into high hospitalisation rates for
infectious diseases, such as rheumatic fever, with long
(Continued from page 1)
New aiga-like formations for Pacific people in New
Zealand are growing in churches, workplaces, and
sports clubs, in flatting or living situations and
sometimes within neighbourhoods. Pacific people take
into these new aiga formations their understandings
of their roles, responsibilities, rights and entitlements
as well as their values and the ethics of aiga. These
HRC Pacific News September 2010
6
term consequences, or skin diseases and their sequelae
(e.g. kidney and bone disease), child pedestrian injury
and other conditions.
Professor Diana Lennon from The University of
Auckland was awarded a grant to evaluate whether
a school-based intervention at a high risk suburban
school in Manukau City can reduce Mäori and Pacific
childrens’ hospitalisation rates to Pakeha rates of
admission. The researchers hope to prevent skin disease
and injuries by providing injury prevention initiatives
and access to healthcare via nurse-led clinics.
2010 HRC Annual Funding Round Results
Projects - Pacific health
Dr Tristram Ingham
Department of Medicine, University of Otago,
Wellington, (04) 385 5541
Whiti Te Ra: Bronchiolitis Disparities among Mäori and
Pacific Children
36 months, $1,146,720
Professor Philip Schluter
Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, AUT
University, (09) 921 9999
Pacific Islands Families Study: Hearing Status of 11 year
olds (PIF: HS)
24 months, $732,717
Feasibility Study Projects - Pacific health
Professor Diana Lennon
School of Population Health, The University of
Auckland, (09) 373 7599
Can We Reduce Mäori and Pacific School Children’s
Hospitalisations to Pakeha Rates?
12 months, $149,883.
reciprocal roles include ensuring the physical and
spiritual wellbeing of aiga which is inclusive of physical
activity and food security. As such these formations
can be recruited to provide and support interventions
and programmes to enhance wellbeing, food security
and levels of physical activity for Pacific people in New
Zealand.
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa