Oka Sanerivi
2025: Dr Oka Sanerivi of Mātai Medical Research Institute will investigate Māori and Pacific men’s perspectives on health, and specifically on prostate cancer
In his New Zealand Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship, Dr Oka Sanerivi will explore how Māori and Pacific men view and understand their health and their bodies. The research will focus on prostate cancer – the most common cancer affecting men in Aotearoa New Zealand. Māori and Pacific men experience relatively high mortality from prostate cancer, despite similar diagnosis rates to other groups. Dr Sanerivi will ask participants about disease awareness, diagnoses, access to culturally appropriate healthcare, treatment, and rehabilitation.
Early detection of, and intervention in, prostate cancer is associated with improved patient outcomes, and means that less-intensive treatment is required, reducing health expenditure. This research will ensure that the experiences of Māori and Pacific men are understood, and enable co-design of a tailored health service to provide culturally informed diagnosis and care for men affected by prostate cancer.
Dr Oka Sanerivi. Supplied.