Dr Apisalome Talemaitoga, ONZM, of Auckland, for services to health and the Pacific community
Dr Apisalome Talemaitoga is a General Practitioner who has established practices in Christchurch and in South Auckland, where his patients are predominantly of Māori and Pacific descent. He is a trusted source for the community, explaining complex terms in an understandable way and promoting long-term health. He was the Chief Advisor of Pacific Health with the Ministry of Health and was on the Board of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he communicated important messages to the Pacific community and worked to connect Pacific GPs to government officials, to ensure access to information and support for Pacific communities. Dr Talemaitoga was appointed Co-Chair of the National COVID-19 Response Group and was the lead clinician during Zoom fonos organised by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.