About Us

Tala Pasifika - the National Pacific Tobacco Control Service was launched in November 2009 to provide Pacific peoples with a mechanism to provide input and advice into policy development processes and to enhance Pacific leadership on tobacco issues. Tala Pasifika also seeks to work collaboratively with key stakeholder groups to empower Pacific peoples to be actively involved in eliminating tobacco use from their communities. 
 
Tala Pasifika is delivered by Pacific Heartbeat, Heart Foundation which is working in partnership with Pacific communities, key tobacco control agencies and the Ministry of Health to deliver services that will contribute towards a smokefree Pacific population in New Zealand.
 
There are five key principles which guide the work that we do:

1. Community Leadership
   Services encourage and support Pacific leaders and community champions through appropriate information and training to mobilise themselves to take action to eliminate tobacco use in the Pacific population.
2. Advocacy
   Services advocate for Pacific peoples best interests in relation to reducing the harm caused by, and the elimination of tobacco use.  This advocacy includes influencing the underlying social, economic, political and cultural conditions that advance and promote smoking.
3. Responsiveness
   Services are holistic in their approach and are delivered in a culturally appropriate manner that reflects the diversity of Pacific perspectives.
4. Partnership
   Services promote improved coordination and collaboration between key stakeholder and partner groups.
   
5. Evidence Based
   Service provision is based on the best available evidence.

Vision
Pacific peoples living healthy and smokefree.
 
Mission
Our mission is to support Pacific peoples to live healthy and free from the burden created by tobacco smoking.  We will achieve this by providing a mechanism for Pacific peoples to have their views fairly represented on key tobacco issues, and in policy development processes.  We will support Pacific communities to take action against tobacco smoking through the provision of up-to-date and appropriate information, resources and training.
 
 
Strategic Priorities
Based on the best evidence available, the strategic priority areas for the service have been identified as:

1. Eliminating exposure to second-hand smoke from Pacific settings with a focus on Pacific children and their parents/caregivers;
2.  Preventing Pacific young people from smoking; and,
3. Eliminating tobacco related disparities from Pacific peoples with a focus on Cook Islands females, Pacific males and pregnant women.
    

Goals
The goals of the service are to:

1. Establish a sustainable service infrastructure.
   
2. Build strong relationships with key stakeholder groups and strategic alliances.
3. Empower and strengthen Pacific community leadership to adopt smokefree practices and to be agents of positive change.
4. Bring the Pacific voice to the development of tobacco related public policy and practice.
5. Work towards the elimination of tobacco-related disparities for Pacific communities.
6. Ensure that best evidence on Pacific tobacco issues is available and presented to support policy and program development