The aim of this project was to develop a better understanding of community empowerment to support the design of further public health and health promotion programmes in Pacific peoples. This was a small scale pilot study that have provided insight into a relatively new area of research, based on an established methodology, used to develop a working definition for traditional Fijian communities.

Research question:
What are the social and cultural perceptions of community empowerment in the Tongan, Samoan, Cook Islands, Niuean and Fijian peoples in Auckland?

This project involved a review of literature, data collection, analysis and documentation of the data for Pacific populations. The other researchers involved were: for the Niuean population, Vili Nosa (Niuean, Department for Pacific Health); the Tongan population group will be researched by Malakai ‘OFanoa (Tongan, Director of Department for Pacific Health); and the Samoan population by Jacinta Fa'ailili. This study allowed the development of a network of contacts in Pacific communities, and provided crucial experience when working with pacific populations and Pacific researchers. The research strengthened the professional links between the Department of Social and Community Health and the Department for Pacific Health at the School of Population Health, The University of Auckland. The study was conducted during 2005/6 in South Auckland communities.