PIFNAG represents the coming together of many groups as our members are employed within diverse organisations with the common goal of health promotion for Pacific peoples.
Our Committee has the following people in key roles:
Co-chairs: Fole Finau and Sione Tupou.
Co-secretaries: Paula Takiwa & Donna Frost
Co-Treasurers: Sione Tupou & Tai Faalogo
Clinical Experts: Prof Elaine Rush, Mafi Funaki-Tahifote; Soana Muimuiheata & Fa’asisila (Sila) Savila
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Mafi is a Tongan and a qualified dietitian who has extensive experience in the health field. Mafi was with the Pacific Heartbeat team at the Heart Foundation for about twenty years before leaving in June 2020 to complete her MBA from the University of Auckland. Mafi is also a mother of five, with her youngest at primary school and the eldest completing tertiary studies. She can be contacted via email at mafi@fakaolla.com.
Tai works for the Stroke Foundation of NZ and she leads the Pacific Stroke Prevention Project in Auckland. For more details on the Stroke Foundation, please click on the following website link. She is based at the office of Vaka Tautua in Manukau and can be contacted via email at tai.faalogo@stroke.org.nz
Soana is a Registered Dietitian and PhD candidate. Soana has been a Dietitian for 25 years, working in the Ministry of Health in Tonga before returning to New Zealand 2002. She is a Technical Advisor for PIFNAG and a member of NZ Dietitian Board. Soana has a special interest in diabetes. She can be contacted via email at soana.totalwellbeing@xtra.co.nz
Donna is a Health Educator specialising in Diabetes. She can be contacted via email at donnafrost.com@gmail.com
Paula is the Secretary of PIFNAG for 2020. She is currently Team Leader Health Advice (North) for Arthritis NZ. For more details on Arthritis NZ, please click on the following website link. She can be contacted via email at Paula.Takiwa@arthritis.org.nz
Fole plays a critical role with The Southern Initiative where he is an intrapreneur in community and social leadership. He can be contacted via email at fole.finau@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.
Fa’asisila is a Senior Research Fellow in Pacific Health at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland. He is interested in the research of food and physical activity systems for healthy Pasifika people. He can be contacted via email at f.savila@auckland.ac.nz
Elaine is Emeritus Professor of Nutrition and the Auckland University of Technology. She is privileged to have been a PIFNAG member from the beginning and learns from the group and provides mentorship and advice as needed. She can be contacted via email at elaine.rush@aut.ac.nz
Last modified: June 22, 2022
