Cancer Society Southern and the Tangata Atumotu Trust are excited to announce a new Pacific Cancer Educator/Navigator pilot programme designed to improve cancer outcomes for Pacific communities in Waitaha Canterbury.
Representatives from the two organisations met this week to officially launch the new partnership and announce the new 13-month pilot, which aims to reduce barriers to cancer care and increase access to screening and support services through education, outreach and service navigation. The pilot is generously supported by a grant from the NZ Lottery Grants Board.
Craig Watson, Head of Cancer Services, Cancer Society Southern says the partners want to “really shift the dial” and provide a model that could be expanded across Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Pacific patients tend to present later, often with more advanced cancers, and we see poorer outcomes as a result. We can’t rely on conventional screening patterns or traditional models of care – they simply aren’t working well enough for Pacific communities. This new navigator and educator role is a significant step in changing that. By working alongside Tangata Atumotu, we can better align cancer support with Pacific values, beliefs, and ways of accessing care.”
Carmen Collie Tuipulotu, Chief Executive of Tangata Atumotu, says the Trust “see this collaboration as a great opportunity for our two charity organisations to influence one another’s practice to support better outcomes for our Pasifika families”.
“This collaboration addresses disparities in health outcomes for our Pasifika communities by providing education to improve understanding of cancer prevention and treatment, navigation support to help families access hospital and community resources, and community engagement to raise awareness and encourage screening.”
One specific focus for the pilot will be increasing participation in bowel screening among Pacific communities.
New Zealand has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer globally, with the lower South Island having significantly higher rates than elsewhere in the country.
Pacific participation in the National Bowel Screening Programme remains comparatively low in Canterbury (40% compared to 57% for Māori and 64% for non‑Māori), with many families facing barriers including language, transport, health literacy, cultural stigma and previous trauma within the health system.
By delivering community-based, culturally grounded cancer education, providing support to help families navigate complex healthcare systems, and strengthening partnerships across the health sector, Cancer Society Southern and Tangata Atumotu aim to improve early detection, remove barriers to care, and ensure Pacific families feel supported through their cancer journey.