Pacific leaders gather for major research symposium

The collective strength of the Pacific will gather at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, as Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, Centre for Pacific and Global Health prepares to host its Research Symposium 2026, on 24 June.

Set within the cultural heart of the University at Fale Pasifika, the Centre’s symposium creates a space where story, science and service come together. This year’s theme, “Insights to Action: Research that strengthens health and solutions across Aotearoa and the Pacific,” reflects a growing momentum of Pacific-led research grounded in community.

The symposium will bring together established and emerging Pacific researchers, community leaders and global partners to share knowledge, challenge assumptions and build pathways that uplift Pacific health and wellbeing.

This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Dr Ai Ling Tang CNZM (University of Sydney), whose work across public health and Pacific communities spans borders and generations. She will be joined by plenary speakers Professor Robyn Whittaker (University of Auckland) and Dr Corina Grey (Director of Public Health NZ and a University of Auckland alumna), bringing together expertise that bridges research, policy and practice.

Together, their contributions will anchor a day shaped by insight, lived experience and the pursuit of equitable health outcomes.

Alongside these keynote and plenary sessions, the symposium programme reflects the breadth of issues shaping Pacific wellbeing today. Panel discussions will explore Women’s Health: Eliminating Cervical Cancer in the Pacific, facilitated by Dr Audrey Aumua, highlighting urgent and collective efforts to protect Pacific women across the region.

The Climate Crisis: Implications for Wellbeing panel, facilitated by Li'amanaia Dr Roannie Ng Shiu, will examine the deep and ongoing connections between environmental change and Pacific health, from rising seas to community resilience.

A further panel on Mental Health Across the Pacific, facilitated by Fonoi'a Professor Jemaima Tiatia-Siau, will centre the experiences, challenges and strengths of Pacific communities, emphasising culturally grounded approaches to mental wellbeing.

Co-director Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga says the symposium reflects a maturing movement - one where Pacific research is no longer on the margins, but leading from within.

“What we are seeing now is Pacific research coming into its own - shaped by our values, accountable to our communities, and focused on real-world impact. This symposium is about moving beyond insight to action, ensuring our research strengthens the health and futures of our people across the region.”

The gathering builds on the energy of recent symposiums, where connections forged across Moana have seeded new collaborations and strengthened a shared vision for Pacific health equity. From community-driven solutions to system-level change, the voices of keynote and plenary speakers sit alongside emerging researchers, all contributing to a collective commitment: that research must serve people, and that knowledge must travel beyond the page.

The work emerging from Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa reflects a deep commitment to legacy: ensuring that the next generation inherits systems that are more just, more responsive, and grounded in Pacific ways of knowing and being.

The symposium stands as a reminder that research, when guided by service and collective purpose, becomes something greater - a vaka carrying knowledge forward for the wellbeing of all.