A researcher tracking the health and well-being of Pacific children in New Zealand is urging the Government to act with haste to provide more support.
Faasisila Savila has co-authored an article just published in the New Zealand Medical Journal into the effectiveness of the Government's strategy to prevent disease among Pacific people.
Mr Savila, of AUT University's Centre for Pacific Health and Development Research, says evidence the strategy has improved Pacific health and tackled related issues such as poverty is lacking.
"From what I can see, there hasn't actually been a huge approach. There have been committees set up to advise the Government but at the same time some sort of language around the denial of poverty as well."
Faasisila Savila says reducing the income gap between Pacific and non-Pacific New Zealanders is a key step towards helping improve Pacific health.
