Polynesian Health Corridors (PHC) Programme Update - June 2025 

A Word of Wisdom

“He waka eke noa ” – We are all in this canoe together

As we move forward, we are reminded that the strength of our communities lies in our shared values and commitment to one another. This is the foundation of our work together, and our journey ahead. 

Pacific greetings  

Tālofa lava, Kia Orana, Mālō e lelei, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Mālo ni and Kia ora!   

Welcome to the PHC Programme newsletter. We are excited to share updates, stories, and progress in strengthening health systems across our six partner countries.  

Collaboration is at the heart of the PHC Programme – working together across our partner countries and health systems to build stronger, more resilient health systems.  

This newsletter helps us stay connected and keep informed on the work we’re doing, the successes we are celebrating, and the challenges we’re addressing together.  

About PHC 

The PHC Programme focuses on the health priorities of the partner countries with New Zealand working closely with the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu, to help strengthen their health systems and achieve better health outcomes for their people and communities.  

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) partners with the Ministry of Health to deliver the PHC Programme through a dedicated team in the Global Health group, within the Public Health Agency of the Ministry of Health.  

Contents

• An overview of our three pillars 
• The latest on PHC engagements  
• Vaccinator Pathway in Tonga 
• PHC theory of change workshop in Cook Islands  
• Meet the team  
• Upcoming engagements 

Our Three Pillars 

Phase Two of the PHC programme continues to focus on the partner countries agreed health priorities through three key pillars:   

Access to Essential Medicines focuses on strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains to access medicines and to assist in building workforce capacity. 

Health Security supports capability strengthening for vaccinators and disease outbreak response, helping better prepare for vaccine-preventable diseases and future health emergencies.   

Non-communicable Diseases aims to improve cancer outcomes by strengthening cervical cancer screening, cancer data collection, and palliative care. It also supports partner countries in understanding their current mental health needs and community risk factors, to better target improvements in mental health services.

The latest on PHC engagements  

PHC visit to Tonga for Vaccinator Pathway

In November 2024, former Health Security Senior Advisor Anne Maree Delaney visited Tonga to support IMAC’s implementation of the Authorised Vaccinator Pathway pilot.

Over two days, she observed the “Train the Trainer” workshops delivered by IMAC to the Tonga Ministry of Health educator staff, covering the new Vaccinator Update and Authorised Vaccinator Course. 

Since June 2024, PHC has partnered with IMAC to support the development and rollout of the Authorised Vaccinator Pathway, aimed at strengthening sustainable vaccination capability in Tonga. Stakeholder interviews with Ministry of Health and nursing representatives also informed next steps for PHC as the pathway continues to progress.   

Theory of Change Workshop in the Cook Islands 

In November 2024, PHC Senior Advisor Nadine Rutter and Verian consultants Jamie Fotheringham and Tialie-Dawn Parkes travelled to the Cook Islands to lead a workshop supporting the development of the PHC programme theory of change.

While in the Cook Islands, the team also engaged with Te Marae Ora (TMO) teams strengthening ongoing data and monitoring efforts in the Cook Islands.

Thanks to the valuable contributions of TMO staff, and inputs from other partner countries through virtual engagements, PHC has successfully developed a draft MERL framework to be fully operational from Year 2 of the programme. 

This will support the programme’s adaptative management approach and better enable us to tell the story of what we are collectively achieving .

Meet the team - Pillar leads

Leilani Burgess - Access to Essential Medicines lead  

Kia ora! Leilani Burgess is a New Zealand born Samoan with her parents from the beautiful villages of Falealupo, Sava’ii  and Vaiala. She is a pharmacist by trade, joining the PHC team in January as the Access to Essential Medicines pillar lead. Leilani says that she is privileged to be working in the PHC programme and looks forward to serving Pacific communities back home.  

Alfred Soakai - Health Security lead   

Malō e lelei,  Alfred Ma’ake Soakai is from  Kolofo’ou, Takamatonga and Tongatapu Tonga. He currently lives in Wellington with his wife and two children. He is the lead of the Health Security team for PHC. Alfred says that he is looking forward to working with our partner countries to strengthen health system and health security linkages in partnership with wider health stakeholders in NZ and abroad. 

Dr Ariane Tuapola - NCD lead

Talofa! Dr Ariane Tuapola was born and raised in New Zealand, after her parents immigrated from the Philippines and Malaysia. She lives in Wellington with her husband and two children of NZ European, Samoan, Filipino and Chinese descent. Dr Ariane says that she feels very privileged to be working in a role that combines two of her passions – cancer control and improving health outcomes for underserved communities. 

Dr Laupepa Va'a – Clinical Lead 

Talofa! Dr Laupepa Va’a is a New Zealand-born Samoan with connections to the villages of Satuimalufilufi in Upolu and Sapapali’i in Savai’i. He grew up in Auckland but now lives in Wellington with his wife and has an adult son who lives in Brisbane.

Dr Va’a is a public health physician and is the Clinical Lead in PHC, working with all pillars in the programme. He says that it is a real privilege to use his expertise in public health, working with colleagues in the Pacific region, to improve outcomes for Pacific peoples and communities.

Having come through the acute phase of the Covid-19 pandemic and the great outcomes achieved in Phase I of PHC, Dr Va’a looks forward to working with counterparts to do the same in Phase II across all areas of the PHC programme.

Leanne Toledo - Programme Management lead  

Kia ora koutou!  Leanne Toledo was born in Southland and mostly raised on the Kāpiti Coast.  She is tangata Tiriti, with whakapapa to England, Ireland, Scotland and Sweden.

Now based in Wellington with her husband and two sons (8 and 4 years old), who also whakapapa to Chile, Leanne has a professional background in Public Health and International Development across the Blue Pacific Continent.

Her work has spanned immunisation, newborn and child health, non-communicable disease prevention, and laboratory strengthening. Leanne is excited to step into the role of Programme Management Lead, continuing to support important mahi that improves health outcomes for Pacific communities. 

Upcoming Engagements

The team will be progressing several strategic engagements in the coming months to support system strengthening across the region.  

Stay tuned for more updates,  Meitaki ma’ata no te kapiti’anga - kia manuia i to’ou rā!  If you have any queries, please email: healthcorridors@health.govt.nz