Close

Pacific Islands Food and Nutrition Action Group

The Pacific Islands Food and Nutrition Action Group or PIFNAG aims to improve the health and wellbeing of Pacific peoples living in New Zealand through eating well and moving our bodies regularly.

Who are we?

The Purpose of this page alongside our Facebook page is to work as an effective touchpoint to articulate the value proposition of PIFNAG to decision makers, influencers, changemakers and the Pasifika communities.

Value: We provide the linguistic, intellectual and social expertise to tackle Pasifika specific food systems challenges.

Target: Central and Local Government (Decision and Policy Makers), NGO’s (Non-government organisation), DHB’s (District Health Board), NFP’s (Not For Profit), Pasifika leaders and Pasifika professionals in the nutrition, sport, recreation, health, social, education, employment and community sectors.

Membership: To become a member, please click on this link to download an application form.

Meeting: At least once a month we have a zoom meeting where members talanoa activities and share experiences to improve Pacific health and wellbeing collectively. All members are welcome to join us. Please email pifnag.secretary@gmail.com to be included in the Zoom invitation

Our People: PIFNAG represents the coming together of many groups as our members are employed with diverse organisations with the common goal of health promotion for Pacific peoples. Please click on this link to learn more about our Committee members.

How can we help?

  • Drive co-design and collaboration activities to enable sustainable food system change at all levels where Pasifika Live, Learn, Work and Play.
  • Unlock new partnerships and opportunities at all levels, particularly within Pasifika systems and settings.
  • Enable the prevention workforce to better understand complex systems from Pasifika cultural perspectives.
  • Build community and organisational capacity for collaboration to achieve Pasifika Health and Wellbeing outcomes.

News

Opinion: Elaine Rush
More of us are now facing food insecurity – with children, Pacific peoples and Māori the most impacted. Covid-19 has brought the wicked problem of food insecurity to the fore. Both food insecurity and the pandemic are complex, unpredictable, open-ended and hard to deal with. Food insecurity means not having access to enough wholesome food and a variety of food every day.  This food must be culturally and socially acceptable, and should also be sustainably produced for the health of the planet……

I think it’s important to recognise the unequal distribution of quality nutritional food within our country. I’m sure many of us have been privy to conversations where blame tends to be placed onto Pacific communities for high rates of diabetes, obesity or other health-related issues…

Our Current Projects

  • Kelston Fruit & Vege initiative
  • Food programmes in Schools initiative
  • Pacific specific report on food poverty for the Child Poverty Action Group to be written

Important Resources and useful website links

Recipes and Cookbooks

Other important website links

Last modified: June 21, 2022