A company headed by Pasifika businessman and philanthropist, John Fiso, has been named as preferred bidder for troubled Pacific Health Services in Cannons Creek, Porirua.

The centre, which was set up more than 10 years ago to provide health and medical services to Pacific people, has 12 employees and services over 2000 people.

Pastor Teremoana Tauira Maka, who was brought onto the Pacific Health Services board recently to help save the centre, is delighted about the potential deal.

“This is great news and will allow continuity and sustainability of the important service we provide here to Pacific people who have significant health needs. It is a relief to know that we will not lose the only Pasifika-focused health service in Porirua, which is essential to the community and has the potential to help many more. Staff at the centre are also excited and relieved about the news, and are pleased that a man who understands the area has bought it.”

Mr Fiso, who is of Samoan descent, grew up in eastern Wellington and spent much of his childhood with family in Cannons Creek. He is best known for establishing the New Zealand Institute of Sport (NZIS), which he started with 18 students in Porirua and grew to around 15,000 total graduates, with campuses in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Through this, John and his team changed the outcomes for many youth.

Mr Fiso hopes to be able to use his skills to enhance and eventually grow Pacific Health Services.

“My hope is that through this investment we can improve services to those who most need them and also provide opportunities for people in the community to step up and learn skills about management, employment, governance and, in this case, health provision, so that the organisation can become a vehicle for upskilling others the community, who, in turn, can share what they have learnt with others in future - thus building much-needed capability among Pacific people.

“Social indicators show us Pasifika communities are at a crisis point and more needs to happen to change this,” Mr Fiso said. “Almost half of all Pasifika preschoolers in New Zealand live in crowded housing and these kids have the highest rate of rheumatic fever. Our children also have an increasing rate of obesity directly linked to deprivation and smoking continues to be a problem.

“These statistics are totally unacceptable and I hope I can help change these outcomes with investments such as this one.”

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