Kia ora, Kia orana, Talofa, Malo lelei, Fakalofa lahi atu, etc, Pacific greetings

Welcome to the Pacific Women’s Health Research & Development Unit

The Pacific Women’s Health Research & Development Unit (PWHRDU) was established in 2006 as a joint venture by the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences and the Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB).

The PWHRDU aims to improve the health of Pacific women by developing a capability in research that informs policy and service delivery and by facilitating Pacific workforce development in women’s health.

The Pacific population of New Zealand is made up of many different ethnic groups. There are 265,000 Pacific peoples in New Zealand (NZ) and this population has seen a rapid growth. Counties Manukau District Health Board has the most Pacific people of any DHB in New Zealand with 82,000 people in 2001. The greater Auckland DHBs account for 67% of all Pacific peoples residing in NZ.

The health experience of New Zealanders is divided on ethnic lines with Pacific peoples experiencing poorer health than other New Zealanders, and that factors impacting on the health of Pacific peoples are not well studied.

Government policy is based on research data. As there is little research on Pacific women, it is hoped that the Unit can inform policy and thereby improve care and services to Pacific women. Although the focus of research and development by the Unit will focus on Pacific women, the data and developments derived has the potential to improve the health of all women in New Zealand.

The Unit has a vision for international collaboration within the Pacific. New Zealand has constitutional relationships with the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. It has had a past constitutional relationship with Samoa and close working relationships with Pacific peoples from Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. Cooperation and communication networks in women’s health research would aid unique partnerships in health care.

The Unit is underpinned by the philosophy that health research, workforce development and service programmes for Pacific women’s health must demonstrate:

• Empowering Pacific leadership and Pacific communities;
• Cultural approach in engaging, dissemination and implementation of research findings and health programmes