At the Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa Research Symposium 2026, Mana Pacific showcased Heartstrings Heritage--research that places family strengths and cultural knowledge at the heart of healthier futures.
On 24 June 2026, the Mana Pacific team travelled to Auckland to share the Heartstrings Heritage research project at the Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa Research Symposium 2026, held at Fale Pasifika, Waipapa Taumata Rau - University of Auckland. The symposium brought together Pacific and global researchers, practitioners, and community leaders under the theme "Insights to Action: Research that strengthens health and solutions across Aotearoa and the Pacific."
Representing Mana Pacific were Prof Tracie Mafile'o, Fa'aeafale'upolu Samuelu, Daniel Taylor, and Aburi Kusilifu, who shared the early findings and vision of the Heartstrings Heritage project. Funded through the Le Alamea Fund | Pūtahi Manawa Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa New Zealand, the research explores how Pasifika families use their strengths, cultural knowledge, and advocacy skills to navigate heart health challenges and achieve better outcomes.
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Behind Every Statistic is a Heartbeat
At the heart of the presentation was a simple but powerful message:
"Behind every statistic is a heartbeat."
Too often, research on cardiovascular disease focuses primarily on deficits and disparities. While these realities are important to acknowledge, Heartstrings Heritage seeks to shift the narrative by highlighting the resilience, knowledge, and leadership that already exists within Pasifika families.
The project asks:
How do Pasifika peoples use family resources to navigate the health system and advocate for better heart health equity?
Drawing on Pacific-Indigenous and community-centred approaches, the research explores how families share knowledge across generations, support one another during health journeys, and advocate for equitable access to healthcare.
Reflecting on the symposium, Mana Pacific researcher Aburi Kusilifu shared:
"We may build knowledge by wanting to know 'how many' and 'how often' etc... but reality is when we amalgamate the knowledge of knowing 'how many', 'how often', with; tell us why, how and what it meant, to our people. In so doing one provides a fuller understanding and appreciation of reality. One cannot do without the other."
Her reflection captured the essence of Heartstrings Heritage--bringing together evidence and lived experience to deepen understanding and create meaningful change.
As Aburi noted,
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." — William Bruce Cameron
Four Generations, One Family, Changing the Story
The inspiration behind Heartstrings Heritage is deeply personal.
The presentation shared the story of four generations of one family affected by heart disease — a grandfather, father, husband, and son. This story reflects the reality experienced by many Pasifika families and reinforces the project's hope that future generations will have a different heart health story to tell.
By listening to family stories and lived experiences, the research seeks to identify the practical strategies communities already use to navigate complex health systems, advocate equitable care, and support one another.
Research Grounded in Community
Heartstrings Heritage is being delivered in three phases:
- Talanoa with Pasifika families and health professionals
- Digital storytelling with Pasifika families
- Talanoa Tai learning experiences for community members and health professionals
This approach ensures that knowledge is generated with communities rather than about communities, creating opportunities for shared learning and meaningful action.
Why This Work Matters
Evidence continues to show that Pasifika peoples in Aotearoa experience earlier onset of cardiovascular disease, higher rates of preventable complications, barriers to care, and ongoing health inequities. Heartstrings Heritage responds to these challenges by focusing on family strengths, culturally responsive approaches, and intergenerational knowledge sharing.
The project seeks to produce resources that will support both communities and healthcare providers, helping to create more equitable and culturally safe pathways to heart health.
Strengthening Pacific Research Leadership
Attending Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa Research Symposium provided an opportunity to connect with researchers and practitioners working across key Pacific health priorities, including non-communicable diseases, child and family wellbeing, health security, and climate-related health challenges.
The symposium highlighted the growing strength of Pacific-led research and the importance of ensuring community voices remain central to health innovation and policy development.
For the Mana Pacific team, sharing Heartstrings Heritage was more than presenting research findings. It was an opportunity to honour the stories of Pasifika families, celebrate their resilience, and contribute to a collective movement towards healthier futures for Pacific communities.
As the project continues, we remain committed to learning from families, amplifying their voices, and translating their insights into action that strengthens heart health equity across Aotearoa.
Because behind every statistic is a heartbeat—and every heartbeat has a story. ❤️
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We are proud to be part of a national effort that supports the health and wellbeing of Pasifika families.
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