Sir Collin Tukuitonga | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Tukuitonga in 2011 | |
| Academic background | |
| Education | University of Sydney (MPH)University of the South Pacific (MBBS) |
| Academic work | |
| Discipline | Public Health scholar |
| Institutions | University of AucklandMinistry of Health (New Zealand) |
Sir Collin Fonotau TukuitongaKNZM (born 1957 or 1958)[1] is a Niuean-bornNew Zealand doctor,public health academic, public policy expert and advocate for reducing health inequalities ofMāori and Pasifika people. He has held several positions in public health and government in New Zealand and internationally.
Tukuitonga was born and raised inNiue. He completed his medical degree inFiji, followed by a master's degree in public health inSydney.[2]
Tukuitonga's first name was spelt 'Colin' for many years but as of 2022 he reverted to its original spelling with a double 'l'.[2]
Tukuitonga was Chief Executive of theMinistry of Pacific Island Affairs, Director of Public Health for theMinistry of Health and also Coordinator of Surveillance of Noncommunicable Diseases for theWorld Health Organization (WHO) based inGeneva.[3] From 2014 to 2020 he was Director-General of the Secretariat of thePacific Community.[4] In 2018 he was nominated by the New Zealand government to be the Regional Director of the Western Pacific Region of the World Health Organization however he did not gain the position.[5]
In 2020 Tukuitonga was appointed as inaugural Associate Dean Pacific at the Health and Medical Sciences faculty of theUniversity of Auckland.[6]
In November 2022 he was appointed for a three year term on the Public Health Advisory Committee (PHAC); the PHAC provides public health advice to government and the Minister of Health.[7]
In 2023, Tukuitonga was appointed a Fellow of theInternational Science Council for his contributions to Pacific health.[8]
In December 2023, Tukuitonga resigned as chairperson ofTe Whatu Ora's Pacific Senate, citing his disagreement with the incomingSixth National Government's scrapping of theSmokefree Environments and Regulated Products (Smoked Tobacco) Amendment Act 2022 andTe Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority). He said that: "I really don't want to work for this government. I have no confidence. They are not going to treatPacific people well and I want to be free to speak up and speak out." In addition, Tukuitonga stepped down from several other government advisory groups.[9]
in June 2024,Te Ao Māori News reported that Tukuitonga would take up a new role as chairperson of theWorld Health Organization's Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (STAG-NCD).[10]
Tukuitonga was appointed aKnight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to Pacific and public health, in the2022 Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours.[11]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
