Census, 66.4% of Pacific peoples were born in Aotearoa New Zealand.3 This means that the Pacific Island-orientated view has expanded to include Aotearoa New Zealand contexts where multi-cultural, commercial, industrial, governmental and individual settings are more prominent. Pacific communities have experienced the impact of neoliberalism in Aotearoa New Zealand and of other global, political, and commercial economies from the 1980s, yet Pacific cultures and traditions have endured. The evolution of this Pacific Island-orientated view is important in the human rights sphere. We recognise that traditionally; the actions of Pacific leaders have been based on values systems in which they are trusted to act in the collective interest of the community. As commercial, governmental and industrial systems outside of those values systems evolve, however, the human rights lens becomes crucial in ensuring the best interests of Pacific people are maintained. Spirituality is still a significant community force among Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand. The 2018 Census reported that 73 percent of Pacific peoples had a religious affiliation, predominantly Christian. This is much higher than the national average of 44 percent. Pacific churches have navigated changing views to increase community awareness and care for people with mental health conditions4 and people with diverse sexual orientations and gender expressions.5 The ‘fale lotu’ or Church is seen as a community hub. Many early childhood education programmes, such as aoga vagahau (Niue), akoga kamata (Tokelau), a’oga ‘amata (Samoan), puna reo (Cook Island Māori) and ako kamata (Tongan) are connected to churches. Churches also contribute to the active not-for-profit sector in Pacific communities. There are 496 Pacific not-for-profit organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand of which 320 are of a religious nature. Collectively, Pacific peoples volunteer 26,700 hours of their time to these organisations every week.6 Pacific cultural and spiritual values in response to COVID-19 in 2020 Pacific organisations and communities demonstrated the values of communicating with their community during lockdowns and times of economic hardship brought about by COVID-19 outbreaks in 2020. Pacific media organisations played an important role in disseminating authoritative and non-judgemental clinical and community information. Auckland-based radio broadcaster, Radio 531pi, used Facebook to mobilise its broadcasting to national audiences. It also interviewed Pacific clinicians and Pacific experts to help inform and reassure communities. To encourage adherence to physical distancing and lockdown Pacific community groups demonstrated the ethos of service to others, such as through the sharing good quality information, and ensuring that 3 4 5 6 6 access to physical exercise and cultural activities was sustained. While the service ethos was key, the maintenance of relationships was also central to the Pacific responses to COVID-19 and helping ensure that people were cared for collectively. For some communities, the COVID-19 lockdowns created hardship as workers were either furloughed or made redundant. For the Tongan Society of South Canterbury, for example, service meant mobilising resources in the community to share among families facing a cold winter with less income due to the lockdown. The community group was able to redirect community development funding and community donations to buy and deliver hygiene packs, food packs and winter warming packs. Statistics New Zealand (2020) Pacific peoples ethnic group, accessed from https://www.stats.govt.nz/tools/2018census-ethnic-group-summaries/pacific-peoples. Tamasese, Peteru & Waldegrave (2005) Ole Taeao Afua, the New Morning: A Qualitative Investigations into Samoan Perspectives on Mental Health and Culturally Appropriate Services. Katavake-McGrath (2020): Untitled PhD Thesis – Lived Experience of Pacific Gay Men of legislative change. Samu, L-J. V., Moewaka Barnes, H., Asiasiga, L. and McCreanor, T. (2019). We’re not privileged to have that foundation of language: Pasifika young adults share their deep concerns about the decline of their ancestral/ heritage languages in Aotearoa New Zealand. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, Volume 15, Issue 2, 1-9. Talanoa: Human rights issues for Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand