A Māori-Samoan physiotherapist, Vaea Ulima Tofi, is studying how to improve heart health support for Māori and Pasifika communities. Tofi, who holds the title of Vaea from Matāutu Apia in Samoa, noticed that current healthcare services don’t always meet the needs of these groups.
He explained that many medical services use complicated language, making it hard for people to understand what they need to do next. Tofi shared, “If I find it confusing even with a physio degree, it must be even harder for families without that education.”
Using Māori and Pasifika knowledge, Tofi will explore how health professionals can provide better care, keep indigenous staff, and ensure fair treatment for these communities.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in New Zealand, with Māori having higher hospitalisation and death rates compared to non-Māori. Although heart disease is preventable, some risk factors like age, gender, family history, and ethnicity cannot be changed.
Tofi believes in the idea that “if you can see it, you can be it,” but there are very few Māori and Pasifika specialists in heart care. He wants to understand what draws Māori and Pasifika people into these roles, what helps them stay, and how they cope in a system often shaped by Pākehā (European) culture.
Before diving deeper into his research, Tofi will immerse himself in te reo Māori (the Māori language) to strengthen his cultural understanding. He feels this will give him the confidence and resilience needed for the next steps in his journey.
His research is supported by a three-year fellowship from the NZ Heart Foundation.
