Pasefika Midwives Collective

About Us

The Pasefika Midwives Collective

Originally the collective members consisted of myself, Fana Temese-To’omaga and the late Therese Stowers. The three of us had a range of expertise and knowledge spanning over 25 years within the midwifery field.

Together, our mission was to help Pasefika women and their families feel more comfortable and have their voices heard and represented in their birthing experience, as well as to provide midwifery services tailored specifically for our Pasefika community in New Zealand.

Our first project was the Tīna Initiative, providing antenatal classes in a specifically Pacific context for Pacific women and their aiga in the region.

By combining our midwifery expertise and cultural background, we create our unique Pregnancy Talanoa.

The Talanoa has now been running in Wellington successfully for 4 years, with incredible feedback from our participants.

Sadly, there is a critical shortage of Pasefika midwives in New Zealand, but the goal is to have more Pasefika midwives join the collective over time, to support this important work.

You can read more about my background below.

Penina Fitisemanu

Talanoa Facilitator

Talofa my name is Penina Fitisemanu. I am Samoan and Swiss. Both my parents immigrated to New Zealand in 1958, my father from Switzerland and my mother from Samoa. She comes from the village of Saoluafata in Upolo. I was born in New Zealand and the youngest of 5 siblings.

I have been a Midwife since 1996 and was a Registered Nurse before that from 1989. I have worked in the hospital setting in all areas Antenatal, Birthing suite and Postnatal wards since graduating. In 1999 I moved out into the Community and became a Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) and continue to provide LMC care to Pacific women in the Wellington Central region since that time.

After all these years I continue to thoroughly enjoy the work that I do being a Midwife, especially with the new Pacific midwives entering the profession.