Analosa Veukiso-Ulugia

The well‐being of young people globally is a key concern for many. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Pacific people are the youngest ethnic population, and Pacific youth experience complex well‐being challenges related to socio‐economic inequality and diverse identities. However, recent research indicates that Pacific youth are navigating new forms of social and cultural connection, including in digital spaces. This article presents the findings of a scoping review focused on digital vā, a pan‐Pacific relational ontology, and its relationship to well‐being, applied to an online gaming context. Conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 670 studies were identified, of which 17 met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicate a scarcity of literature focused on Pacific youth, digital vā and online gaming, underscoring the need to explore how Pacific youth engage emerging digital spaces in relation to their well‐being from their own perspectives in a future‐focused manner.

Mental health settings frequently provide a space where survivors of historical child sexual abuse (CSA) feel able to disclose their experiences. International research consistently shows that such...

Introduction: Physical activity is essential for health in adolescence, however less than half of adolescents in Aotearoa New Zealand are classified as being sufficiently active for health benefits. Pacific adolescents are less likely to be classified as sufficiently active compared to their peers from other ethnic groups. This study explored the association between physical activity in Pacific adolescents and potential protective factors. Methods: This quantitative study uses data from the Youth19 Rangatahi Smart survey. A bivariable logistic regression analysis assessed the relationship between seventeen independent variables and physical activity participation in the past week. Thereafter, a multiple variable stepwise logistic regression analysed the variables significantly associated with physical activity. Results: In the bivariable logistic regression analysis, the significant associations were gender, well-being score, belonging to a cultural group, belonging to a group outside of school, spiritual connectedness, school decile (4 & 8), and the belief that exercise is important. In the multivariable stepwise logistic regression analysis, two factors remained significant: belief that exercise is important (odds ratio = 4.896, 95% CI=3.268, 7.337, p <.001) and belonging to a group outside of school (odds ratio = 2.048, 95% CI = 1.397, 3.003, p <.001). Conclusion: Overall, this study offers insights into the protective factors associated with physical activity in Pacific adolescents. Future qualitative research is needed to gain a more in-depth understanding of these protective factors within Pacific communities to help improve their health and well-being.

Pacific youth in Aotearoa New Zealand are culturally diverse and deeply rooted in their families and communities. Despite facing socioeconomic inequities, systemic barriers, and limited decision-making opportunities, they maintain a positive perception of health and actively contribute to collective wellbeing. This paper explores the strengths of Pacific youth and how these can be harnessed to mobilise community wellbeing and transformative change. Using Pacific research methodologies—lalaga (weaving) and talanoa—we integrate findings from three key sources: the Talavou o le Moana Pacific Youth19 Report (quantitative data from 1130 Pacific youth), the Pacific Youth Home and Family Brief (open-text responses on family life), and insights from a panel of Pacific policy, research, and community experts presented in a webinar. These resources were reviewed and woven together by a team of three Pacific practitioners and one New Zealand European researcher, all with backgrounds in youth health, social work, and Pacific education. The lalaga reveals Pacific youth’s collective strength, cultural identity, and deep sense of responsibility. Their resilience and leadership, even amid adversity, highlight the urgent need for culturally grounded, youth-led, and community-responsive approaches. Empowering Pacific youth as agents of change is essential for fostering holistic wellbeing and transformative futures.

Western knowledge systems are increasingly scrutinised for their colonial roots and their dominance over Indigenous perspectives. In response, Indigenous, First Nations, and Pacific scholars are actively challenging these colonial epistemologies in higher education through research and community engagement, carving out spaces that honour and privilege Indigenous ways of knowing and being. This article focuses on the collaborative research journey of Pacific scholars at a leading New Zealand university. Their efforts culminated in a Pacific Research Showcase, an initiative aimed at exploring and enacting values of relationships, reciprocity, and respect within Pacific research. Grounded in Pacific research methodologies (PRM)-including the talanoa framework, lalaga (weaving) metaphor and a collaborative reflective approach, this study outlines the development of the showcase, emphasising how these values are central to Pacific research and scholarship and its impact with Pacific communities. By highlighting Pacific-led research and fostering collaboration, the showcase legitimises Pacific knowledge systems and advocates for their integration into the broader landscape of educational research and policy.

While sexual and reproductive well-being is largely understood within the context of families and communities, wider social, political and cultural forces play a powerful role in shaping conversations surrounding sexuality. This chapter explores the development and inclusion of Pacific content in the New Zealand's Relationships and Sexuality Education Guidelines 2020, guidelines that assist teachers, school principals and Boards of Trustees in planning responsive programmes to meet the needs of Aotearoa-New Zealand (Aotearoa-NZ) children and young people. Such programmes are essential as modern-day Aotearoa-NZ society is very different to that of previous generations. However, many sexual health issues and taboos remain the same. This chapter examines the contribution of Indigenous and Pacific theories in shaping Aotearoa-NZ's sexuality education guidelines. Although many Pacific communities are commended for retaining traditional values and adhering to cultural and religious teachings, these notions are examined in light of case studies from Pacific educators who deliver sexuality programmes in school settings. Their insights shed light on the importance of engagement and relationships with Pacific students and their families.