An academic is warning that Pacific health will continue to get worse unless communities are consulted over health policies.
Aliitasi Su'a Tavila, of Victoria University in Wellington, says New Zealand statistics show the health of the Pacific population is at risk and will get worse unless something changes.
Dr Su'a Tavila says Pacific people in both New Zealand and other Pacific nations are facing health issues such as heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
She says collaboration between health professionals, policy makers and Pacific communities is critical to meeting the health needs of Pacific people.
"If we really need to achieve what the Government is looking at they must always involve or they must always communicate with the Pacific community in order for them to understand and to agree with what the outcome will be or what is going to be included in the strategy."
Dr Su'a Tavila says Pacific people's values and beliefs must be taken into account when forming health policies concerning them.
