As PMA celebrates 30 years of serving Pacific communities, the discussion highlighted how collaboration has been central to strengthening health systems, growing local capability and delivering meaningful outcomes across Aotearoa and the Pacific.
Dr Paula Vivili, Director-General of the Pacific Community (SPC), said successful partnerships are built on trust and a shared commitment to achieving better outcomes.
"All we do is not possible on our own. Partnerships allow us to do things. The best partnerships are the ones that are based on trust."
Reflecting on SPC's experience working with more than 170 official partners, Dr Vivili acknowledged that partnerships are not always straightforward.
"Not every partnership will work as planned, despite the best intentions," he said, noting that openness, learning from challenges and being realistic about organisational capacity are all essential.
He also emphasised the importance of timing, recognising that while opportunities may arise, organisations must be intentional about when they are ready to contribute meaningfully.
Dr Dilhani Bandaranayake, Lead Adviser Health at New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), reinforced the importance of long-term partnerships that are grounded in local priorities and strengthened through investment in sustainable health systems.
"Lasting progress in health depends on trusted relationships, strong systems and solutions that are shaped by local reality."
She spoke about the value of working alongside Pacific governments and organisations to support locally led approaches that build resilience and improve health outcomes over time, an approach that closely aligns with PMA's commitment to partnering with Pacific communities and countries to strengthen healthcare capacity across the region.
As PMA marks three decades of service, the panel served as a reminder that meaningful impact is not achieved by any one organisation alone, but through enduring partnerships that place Pacific people, knowledge and aspirations at the centre of better health outcomes.
