Loto'i Tonga : "A community development/health promotion model for Tongans living in urban areas"

Abstract

Tongans have migrated to New Zealand for more than a century. Confronted with a vastly different living environment and culture to that they have known in the Islands, the adjustment period can be difficult and protracted. The health of the Tongan community in New Zealand is much poorer than that of the New Zealand population as a whole, and much of the excess morbidity and mortality is associated with the difficulties families face in adjusting to the New Zealand setting. This research examines the appropriateness of taking a health promotion community development approach to this situation. The Tongan community of Mangere, Auckland was chosen as the site of this exploratory work. If found to be appropriate, this approach has the potential to enhance the health and wellbeing of Tongan migrants in not only Mangere but, through local modification of the model produced as a result of this study, to Tongans living throughout New Zealand and worldwide.