Pacific Pathology Training Centre-PPTC

28/10/2025

It’s auditing season. The PPTC has commenced its auditing activity for Pacific medical laboratories this year- 2025, and one of our consultants, Emmanuel, has recently completed auditing the Vanuatu Medical Laboratory services in both Port Vila and Santo. He shares:
“It is always a great honor and relief to connect with my Pacific Laboratory colleagues. This past week, I had the privilege of conducting the annual external audit for the Vanuatu Medical Laboratory Services, and I am proud of their effort, resilience, and commitment towards striving to achieve alignment/compliance with the ISO 15189-Medical Laboratory Standard. While there are challenges, the beauty lies in the workforce and hierarchy striving to improve in every possible way. It was a successful week. Tankiu tumas.”

Auditing is an essential component of Laboratory Quality Management Systems, enabling laboratories to assess their systems and ensure compliance with standard requirements. The PPTC team will be visiting laboratories across the Pacific to strengthen, support and align labs to build capacity as part of NZ MFAT health support programme(s) in the Pacific region.

Stay with us for more updates.

New Zealand High Commission in Vanuatu
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Vanuatu National Hospital
Vanuatu Daily Post
Health Promotions Vanuatu

10/09/2025

Fakafetai lahi lele mo na tapuakiga Tokelau. I te 5 mahina nae fakafeagai au na tama fanau a koulua I te kohi I te fale Hiaki toto I Ueligitone Niu Hila. Kua iku manuia ienei fakamoemoega, ko na fanau ki a Telesia Manuele, Silivelio Saumani ma Seleni Peleni kua iku manuia a latou akoakoga.

Kua toe taliu atu te latou faiga Malaga ki Tokelau, aua a latou tautuaga kio tatou tagata I luga o Tokelau. Ke manuia te Malaga na fanau, kae maihe na tautuaga ka tautua ai koulua mo Tokelau.

We are pleased to announce that after five months of rigorous coursework at the Lab in Wellington, New Zealand, our Tokelau students—Seleni Peleni, Telesia Manuele, and Silivelio Saumani—have successfully passed their exams.

They depart today to return to Tokelau to serve our people. Travel safely, and may God guide and protect you on your journey.

08/09/2025

The PPTC successfully completed its 4th Wellington based course for the year 2025.

The Blood Transfusion course was held at the PPTC from the 28th of July to the 22nd of August where 3 nations came together to advance and promote their medical laboratory service.

Five students from 3 participating countries - Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Tokelau successfully graduated from the course and made history as the first cohort of students to have graduated with our approved micro-credential course with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

The students namely are:

1. Elizabeth Onahikeni Kutukana- Solomon Islands 🇸🇧- NRH Laboratory
2. Shirley Iercet- Vanuatu 🇻🇺 - VCH Laboratory
3. Silivelio Saumani- Tokelau 🇹🇰- Laboratory
4. Seleni Peleni- Tokelau 🇹🇰- Laboratory
5. Telehia Manuele- Tokelau🇹🇰- Laboratory

We would also like to thank the New Zealand Red Cross and the Norman Kirk Memorial Trust for graciously sponsoring 2 students from the Pacific to attend this course and the New Zealand Blood Service for their continued and unwavering support.

We wish them all the best for the future and remember the PPTC is always here wherever and whenever when you need us.

Fakafetai, Tangkyu, Tagio

Photo credit : Government of Tokelau

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Ministry Of Health & Medical Services - Solomon Islands
Solomon Star News
Vanuatu Daily Post
Pasifika Medical Association Group
WHO Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau
New Zealand High Commission- Honiara, Solomon Islands
New Zealand High Commission in Vanuatu

03/09/2025

03/09/2025

We are pleased to announce that the PPTC’s Chief Executive Officer- Philip Wakem was recently awarded Life Membership with the The New Zealand Institute of Medical Laboratory Science - Inc at the 2025 Annual Scientific Meeting that was held in Hamilton from the 27-29 August.

Phil was also nominated to deliver the TH Pullar Address. Each year the NZIMLS Council invites a person who has made a significant contribution towards Medical Laboratory Science in New Zealand to deliver the TH Pullar Memorial Address at the Annual Scientific meeting. This prestigious address is in honour of Dr TH Pullar who passed away on the 29th August 1966. This memorial address is given at the opening ceremony of the NZIMLS ASM and is published in the Journal.

The entire team of PPTC Consultants attended the ASM to show support and acknowledge Phil for his leadership and well deserved award.

“He aha te mea nui o te ao”?
What is the most important thing in the world?

“He tangata, he tangata, he tangata”
It is the people, it is the people, it is the people

Ngā Mihi

07/08/2025

Government of Tokelau

07/08/2025

The PPTC is pleased to announce that it is now registered with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA).

The PPTC is also delighted to share that it is now a Signatory to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021.

If you would like to verify PPTC’s registration status with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) you may do so online following the link below:

https://www.nzqa.govt.nz/providers/details.do?providerId=443329001

We would like to acknowledge the support from everyone.

This milestone is an achievement for us all.

New Zealand High Commission, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
New Zealand High Commission- Honiara, Solomon IslandsNew Zealand High Commission Niue
New Zealand High Commission, Rarotonga, Cook Islands
New Zealand High Commission in Vanuatu
New Zealand High Commission to Kiribati
New Zealand High Commission, Suva, Fiji
Pacific Connections - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Auckland
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
World Health Organization Western Pacific Region

This Education Organisation is a Signatory to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.See explanation.

07/08/2025

2025 Update:

The PPTC successfully completed its 3rd centre based course for the year 2025.

The "Clinical Biochemistry Course" was delivered over 4 weeks at our centre from the 23rd of June to the 18th of July, which covered a comprehensive theoretical component and practical application in the Medical Diagnostic field of Clinical Biochemistry.

Filipo Faiga- the PPTC Biochemistry Specialist convened the course for the students from Samoa and Tokelau and took them on the journey towards learning the fundamentals of Clinical Biochemistry.

The course participants were:

1. Uesile Uesile- Samoa (TTMH)
2. Seleni Peleni- Tokelau MOH
3. Telehia Manuele- Tokelau MOH
4. Silivelio Saumani- Tokelau MOH

We congratulate our students for their hardwork, commitment and congratulate them for successfully completing the course.

We extend our sincere thanks to the following for their valuable support:

Government of Tokelau
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Pacific Connections - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Auckland
WHO Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau

07/08/2025

2025 Update:

The PPTC successfully completed its second centre based course for the year. The "Medical Microbiology and Introduction to Molecular Diagnostics course" was held from the 5th -30th of May.

Participants for this course were from the Samoa and Tokelau Medical Laboratories respectively.

This 4 week course covered a comprehensive theoretical component and a series of practical workshops in the diagnostic field of Medical Microbiology and Molecular testing platforms. The purpose of this training was to equip students with sufficient knowledge to be able to work confidently and competently in their home laboratories and be able to provide quality diagnostic test results to clinicians for better patient management and improve health outcomes.

The Course participants were:

1. Silivelio Saumani- Tokelau 🇹🇰
2. Folole Bartley - Samoa (TTMH) 🇼🇸
3. Seleni peleni- Tokelau 🇹🇰
4. Telehia Manuele- Tokelau 🇹🇰

Ministry of Health Samoa
WHO Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau
Pasifika Medical Association Group
Pacific Connections - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Auckland
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Government of Tokelau

28/07/2025

It was great week of “Promoting and Advancing Diagnostic Pathology Knowledge and Practice”. This time around in the Friendly Islands of the Pacific- The kingdom of Tonga.

From the 28th of June to the 4th of July- the PPTC visited the Vaiola Hospital Pathology laboratory to deliver on site technical training and quality management training.

Pictured along here with some of the amazing staff of the Vaiola Hospital Laboratory Department.

New Zealand High Commission, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Ministry of Health Tonga

11/07/2025

In our interconnected world, health emergencies are arriving faster than before - from emerging infectious diseases to impacts.

The International Health Regulations (IHR), agreed upon by World Health Organization (WHO) Member States, provide an overarching legal framework defining countries’ rights and obligations in handling public health events and emergencies with potential to cross borders.

Learn more about the amendments to counter the misinformation out there.

It’s quite simple. The IHR are owned by countries and implemented by countries. Get the facts ➡️ bit.ly/46BHs1X

11/07/2025

Telesia Apikotoa- PPTC's Consultant recently visited the Cook Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu Medical Laboratories as part of our Laboratory Strengthening and Capacity Building Programme.

At the PPTC, we value the Pacific as our family and as such continue to advance the Medical Laboratory Services in the Pacific to reach greater heights towards improving overall Health care in the region.

Pictured here are some of the laboratory staff at the Cook Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu.

Remember: "Quality is everyone's responsibility"

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Pacific Connections - Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Auckland