Where you’re from, your role and place of work? 

 I am Tongan, I hail from the islands of Kolomotu’a and Ha’ateiho. I am an Auckland-based GP and Urgent care specialist with special interest in women’s health and cosmetic medicine. I'm currently working at Local Doctors in Avondale, White Cross urgent care, or part-time in Hamilton doing Cosmetic medicine.  

Outside of clinical work, I write a weekly health column for Stuff NZ and I’m a content creator across TikTok and Instagram, where I reach a predominantly New Zealand, mostly Pacific audience.  

What are you passionate about and why? 

I’m passionate about making health information accessible, particularly for Pacific communities who have historically been underserved by mainstream health messaging. I believe that if people can see a doctor who looks like them, speaks to their lived experience and shows up in the spaces they already occupy, like social media, it builds trust. And trust is the foundation of good health outcomes. That’s what drives me. 

What are you most looking forward to discussing on the technology panel? 

I’m really looking forward to talking honestly about the how, not just the why. A lot of health professionals want to use social media but don’t know where to start, or they’re afraid of getting it wrong. I want to share what it actually looks like to build a credible, ethical presence online as a clinician, how to communicate complex health information in a way that’s engaging without being misleading and how social media has genuinely opened doors I never expected, from patient education to speaking at conferences and attending numerous events and being featured in TV programmes. It definitely opens a whole new perspective on healthcare.  

Words of advice for those pursuing a similar path? 

Start before you feel ready because you’ll never feel ready. Your clinical training already gives you something most content creators don’t have: credibility and depth. Use it. Be consistent, be yourself and don’t water yourself down to fit an algorithm. The right audience will find you when you’re authentic. And remember, you don’t have to choose between being a great doctor and having a public voice. Done well, one makes the other stronger.