Celebration marks Pacific leadership in health research to address gout

A celebration honouring Pacific leadership and community partnership to co-design new health resources for Pacific peoples, was held last month at the Fale o Sāmoa in Māngere.

The special event marked the conclusion of a Health Research Council (HRC) project grant and the launch of culturally tailored resources on gout, a chronic condition that disproportionately affects Pacific populations. It brought together community leaders, health professionals, and researchers to celebrate the collective effort behind the project, and to reaffirm a commitment to continued collaboration beyond the life of the grant.

The project has been led by Associate Professor Malakai ‘Ofanoa (Ha’apai, Tonga) from the University of Auckland, alongside Research Fellow Dr Samuela ‘Ofanoa (Ha’apai, Tonga). Over the past three years, ‘Ofanoa senior and ‘Ofanoa junior, and the research team partnered closely with Pacific community groups, applying talanoa and co-design principles, allowing the community to be active participants in the research and ensuring the resources produced reflected Pacific values, languages and lived experiences.

Leadership first: Dr Malakai ‘Ofanoa’s vision

As principal investigator of the HRC Pacific Project Grant focused on improving uptake of urate lowering therapy among Pacific gout patients, Associate Professor ‘Ofanoa noted the broader importance of the gathering.

“The celebration was a significant milestone for our Pacific community, health professionals, researchers and wider aiga.

“It highlights the significance of our co-design partnership. Our Pacific communities initiated, designed, implemented and evaluated gout resources that aim to improve the health of our peoples. Who owns these resources? The community themselves.”

He reinforced the messaging that the researchers’ role throughout the project was to support, not direct, the community.

“As researchers, our role is to enable and empower our communities to lead initiatives.”

'Shame' a major barrier to care

Pacific peoples experience some of the highest rates of gout in Aotearoa compared with non-Māori, and non-Pacific populations. This disproportionate burden is driven by a combination of genetic predisposition, Pacific bodies having evolved under wayfinding, oceanic survival conditions, influencing uric acid processing.

Dr Samuela 'Ofanoa says there’s a 10 percent difference between Māori and Pacific people who have gout compared to non-Māori and non-Pacific people.

Stigma remains a major barrier to care, amplified by widespread misinformation on social media, where most gout related content overemphasises diet and minimises the roles of genetics and kidney function - framing gout as a personal failing rather than a chronic metabolic condition. This shame discourages Pacific families from seeking preventive treatment, even though long term urate lowering medication is the only proven method to dissolve urate crystals and stop recurrent flares.

Co-design in action: creating 'NIU'

One of the key outcomes of the project was NIU - Nesians Improving the Uptake of Urate lowering therapy. Associate Professor ‘Ofanoa explained that the name “Nesian” was chosen by the community to embrace the diversity of Pacific peoples across Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.

“The community decided on the term Nesian as it encompasses the diversity of Pacific communities and many Islands across our region.”

The co-design approach helped break down complex medical information into culturally resonant resources, strengthening health literacy and reducing the stigma often associated with chronic conditions like gout.

“Education is key. When communities understand the causes, treatments and lifestyle changes that can prevent gout, they are better equipped to take control of their health.”

Community leadership

Community leader Rose Lamont (Sāmoa), head of the Pacific People’s Health Advisory Group, reflected on the importance of the partnership.

“It was such a wonderful celebration of our collaboration with our community, researchers and practitioners. Co-design empowers our Pacific communities to be active participants in research that’s going to improve not just our own health but also our families and the wider community.”

Lamont emphasised the strength of Pacific collective values:

“We are strengthened by our shared Pacific values, and as a community we feel listened to as we work together for better health outcomes.”