Published 11 November 2026
Sixty people gathered at Te Pae o Kura in Kelston, Auckland, on Thursday 25 June 2026. It was the last of four Pasifika fono hosted by CCS Disability Action. The Ministry of Social Development funded the series so the organisation could hear directly from Pasifika disabled people and their aiga (family). Participants said disability support works best when it is relationship-based, culturally safe, face-to-face, accessible, and grounded in trust.
Twenty-one of the people who attended are supported by CCS Disability Action. Others came as community members, aiga, and staff from Pasifika agencies. Between them, participants identified with African, Chinese, Cook Island, Cook Island Māori, European, Indian, Māori, Niuean, Samoan, Samoan-Tongan, Tongan, Tongan-Māori-Samoan, and Tuvaluan communities.
Pastor Paora Teaukura opened the day with a blessing. The Electoral Commission and Statistics New Zealand attended with Pasifika staff and information stalls.
What the fono series set out to do
CCS Disability Action began the fono series, called Our Pasifika Gathering, in September 2025. The four events were designed and led by the organisation's Pasifika Working Group, which includes Pasifika kaimahi and community members.
The first fono was held at Manukau Institute of Technology in Ōtara on 24 September 2025 and drew 66 people. The second was held at the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa in Frankton, Hamilton, on 26 November 2025, with more than 60 people. The third, in Wellington on 25 March 2026, was the largest, with more than 120 people attending and around 50 disabled people taking part.
The Kelston fono closed the series. Across all four events, participants worked through the same four questions:
Do current services reflect Pasifika values?
If they do not, why not?
What could have been done better?
How can Pasifika communities stay connected, support aiga, and advocate for better services?
What participants said is working
Participants at the Kelston fono said some services do reflect Pasifika values. The things that made the difference were word of mouth, aiga and whānau networks, face-to-face relationships, Pacific languages, accessible information, and trust.
Some participants named CCS Disability Action as a service that, in their words, "sees us" and creates safe experiences. Strong relationships with health providers, including GPs, were also raised as important.
What participants said is not working
Participants described services that are often rushed, inflexible, and hard to navigate. People describe having to repeatedly prove disability, and about a lack of reasonable accommodations. Participants also said disabled people's own views of what they need are not always trusted.
Language and communication barriers came up throughout. Participants said information is often provided only in English, or is lost in translation. That makes informed decisions harder for aiga, and particularly for elders.
Participants also raised barriers in attitudes. They gave examples from transport, health appointments, and dealings with professionals who they said did not listen or give them enough time. A shortage of Pasifika staff across services came up again and again.
The five barriers the group ranked highest
Participants were asked to identify the barriers that mattered most. The top five presented back to the room were:
Not knowing who to ask or where to get help.
Cultural expectations, including respect for elders and pressure not to question, alongside shame, fear, and judgement.
Fear of speaking up or complaining in case funding or a support package is lost.
A lack of Pasifika staff in the workforce.
Bureaucracy and paperwork, and the difficulty of reaching a real person on the phone to access funds and support.
Not knowing which organisation to contact was the most common issue in the notes. Participants said they were unclear on the roles of CCS Disability Action, Work and Income, Needs Assessment and Service Coordination services, parent support groups, and other providers.
What happens next
Tilomai Solia is project lead for the fono series and a member of CCS Disability Action's Pasifika Working Group. She said the four events built something the organisation now needs to act on.
"Our communities came with honesty and courage, and they told us plainly what is not working," Tilomai Solia said. "The message across all four fono was consistent. People want relationships they can trust, information in their own languages, and more Pasifika staff. They also told us that disabled people must be heard directly, not only through their aiga."
The feedback from all four fono will now go to CCS Disability Action's leadership, which will consider what it means for services and support. The organisation has said the feedback will inform its National Pasifika Strategy.
Mel Smith, Chief Executive of CCS Disability Action, said the leadership team's task is to turn the feedback into decisions.
"Some of what we heard is about the wider system rather than about us alone, so that will need to inform our wider advocacy,” Mel Smith said. “Pasifika disabled people and their aiga have given us a clear and detailed account of where disability support falls short. We now have to be honest about what we change, what we stop, and what we build. That includes how easy we are to reach when a family first needs help."
CCS Disability Action has said it will report back to the communities who took part once the leadership team has considered the feedback. Details of the fono series, including event information and accessible resources, are on the Our Pasifika Gathering page.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Pasifika fono?
A fono is a Pasifika gathering or meeting. CCS Disability Action used the fono format so Pasifika disabled people and their aiga could talk about disability support in a culturally familiar setting. Each day included food, prayer, and open talanoa (discussion).
How many Pasifika fono were held, and where?
Four. Ōtara, Auckland, in September 2025; Hamilton in November 2025; Wellington in March 2026; and Kelston, Auckland, in June 2026.
Who paid for the fono series?
The Ministry of Social Development funded the series.
What happens to the feedback participants gave?
CCS Disability Action's leadership team will consider the feedback from all four fono. It will inform the organisation's National Pasifika Strategy, and its future services and support.
Can I still have a say?
Yes. You can contact your local CCS Disability Action branch to share your experience or ask about the Pasifika Working Group's work.
About CCS Disability Action
CCS Disability Action is the largest pan-disability support and advocacy organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We support people with all types of impairments and have been working alongside disabled people since 1935.
We are at the forefront of service provision, advocacy and information sharing in the disability sector. We partner with disabled people, their families and whānau to enable them to have choice and control in their lives. Our vision is to see every disabled person and whānau hauā interwoven into the lives of their whānau and community.