A national hui took place on July 8, 2021, bringing together participants working on heart health equity in New Zealand, and documenting research, evaluation and current service delivery models and programmes for Māori and Pacific peoples. The hui represented foundational work for Manawataki Fatu Fatu for ACCESS, a 3-year programme of translational research into equity in heart health outcomes for Māori and Pacific peoples. Identified strengths of the current landscape included a strong desire to achieve equity, the presence of vibrant Māori and Pacific communities, and the current restructuring of the health system. Barriers included insufficient staffing, resourcing and time, poor communication and relationships between health professionals, and with patients and whānau, a lack of cultural safety in organisations, low levels of system health literacy due to institutional limitations, gaps in data, research or knowledge, inconsistent implementation of proven interventions, and systemic factors influencing patients’ access to health care. In a creative session, participants shared their ideal pictures of Māori and Pacific heart health outcomes. A common theme was the desire for greater prioritisation of upstream and community-based interventions, and more resources allocated to primary care. The hui culminated in 8 major areas for action over the next 6-12 months: – Supporting Māori and Pacific people in the workforce – Utilising and scaling resources – Facilitating community building – Launching a communication platform – Establishing a discharge summaries project – Sharing findings from whānau hui – Commitment to Pūrākau – Being guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
