The University of Waikato will lead new research aimed at making mental health services work better for Pacific families by ensuring care reflects Pacific cultures, values and ways of life.
Led by Dr Sione Vaka, Associate Dean Pacific and Poutumatua Pasifika Tausisoifua Associate Professor in Nursing in Te Wānanga Waiora Division of Health, the three-year project, Ūloa in Action, seeks to make it easier for Pacific people to access support, feel comfortable using services, and achieve better mental health outcomes.
Dr Sione Vaka
The project has been awarded funding from the Health Research Council to the value of $1.2 million over the three years.
The research responds to a long-standing challenge in New Zealand, where Pacific communities experience higher mental health needs but often face greater barriers to receiving care.
Dr Vaka says there are many reasons for this: some people are not aware of the services available, while others face language barriers, stigma, discrimination, or feel that current services do not understand Pacific values and ways of life.
“Pacific people need to see themselves in the system and build a genuine relationship with it. Ūloa is grounded in culture and Indigenous knowledge so communities can connect meaningfully.
“For Pacific communities, health is often connected to family, culture, spirituality, and community relationships. When these important parts of life are missing from care, people may feel uncomfortable seeking help.”
The Ūloa in Action project aims to create a different experience.
Working alongside Pacific communities, health providers, and researchers, the project will develop a new way of delivering mental health support that combines clinical care with cultural and community support. The work is based on the Ūloa model, which is inspired by traditional Tongan practices of working together for a shared purpose.
“Ūloa brings together clinical care with cultural and community strengths, for a more connected, trusted, and effective approach to mental health,” Dr Vaka says.
Over the next three years, the research team will work with Pacific communities in Counties Manukau to design and develop a clear pathway for care. This is to help guide people through mental health services while ensuring that cultural values, family involvement, and community connections remain central to the process.
The project will then be implemented and tested within Counties Manukau Community Mental Health Services, in partnership with the Faletoa Cultural Liaison team. Researchers will then evaluate what works well, what can be improved, and how the model could be used more widely across New Zealand.
Dr Vaka says the benefits could be significant.
“By helping people access support earlier, the project aims to prevent problems from becoming crises. Earlier support can improve recovery, reduce pressure on hospitals and health services, and help people receive the right care at the right time.”
The research will also create practical tools for the future, including guidelines, training resources and ways to measure success. These resources could help other organisations provide services that are more responsive to Pacific communities.
Ūloa in Action will be hosted by Moana Connect, a New Zealand-based, Pacific-led organisation focused on research, community engagement, learning and advocacy to improve outcomes for Pacific people across New Zealand, from its South Auckland base.
The collaboration reflects the University's commitment to empowering and nurturing Pacific community research leadership. Together, they hope to build stronger connections between mental health services and Pacific communities.
Moana Connect CEO Mary Roberts says Ūloa in Action represents a critical shift in how services are designed for Pacific communities, where services are designed “with us, not for us.”
“At Moana Connect, we are proud to partner with the University of Waikato and Dr Sione Vaka, together with the contributions of Dr Ruby Tuesday and our wider research team, whose collective expertise ensures that cultural values, family connections, and community voices are embedded in how mental health care is shaped and delivered.
“This work has the potential to strengthen the networks of support around mental health service users, deepening understanding and weaving together clinical, cultural, and community approaches to offer a care pathway that genuinely reflects the realities of Pacific families.”
University of Waikato Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Gary Wilson says the project shows the University's commitment to impact focused research.
"We are proud to support Dr Vaka and his team as they work to improve mental health support for Pacific communities. This research has the potential to help more people get the care they need and improve outcomes for Pacific families."
