Listen Now: 
Download AudioSir Colin Tukuitonga interview click here
New knight Sir Colin Tukuitonga says having strong Māori health services has a flow on effect to Pasifika providers.
The Niuean noble, who received his title in the Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours List, says he was fortunate early in his career to be involved in setting up Ngāti Hine Health in the Bay of Islands and also Hauora Hokianga.
That led him start a Pacific primary health provider in an old Telecom warehouse on Lincoln Rd.
It’s now known as the Fono and it’s the biggest Pasifika service in Tāmaki Mākaurau.
“I thought it was going to be a small clinic serving Pasifika Māori families in Massey-Henderson there. So those experiences were very important. It really gave us confidence we could develop community-owned services even if there was some push back from the establishment,” Sir Colin says.
He says the capacity of Māori and Pasifika health services needs to at least double because of the impact they can make on heath inequities.
RELATED NEWS
