Taranaki mother shares Wegovy journey to champion health for whānau

A Taranaki woman is leading a conversation about health equity and obesity management by publicly sharing her personal medical journey. Kayla Dove Tangira (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama and Te Ātiawa) began documenting her experience with the GLP-1 medication Wegovy in May, seeking to improve her health outcomes for the sake of her three-year-old daughter and wider whānau. Ms Tangira, 29, chose to share her story on Instagram and TikTok to provide visibility for Māori in a space where they are often underrepresented. Despite Wegovy becoming available in New Zealand on 1 July 2025, Health NZ data from July 2025 to May 2026 shows that Māori and Pasifika make up just over 15 percent of prescriptions for GLP-1 medications, despite representing 26 percent of the total population. Tangira noted a cultural hesitation among some, describing a belief that such treatments are “not for us” due to cost or a sense of not being “good enough” for high-end healthcare. Dr Sara Simmons, director of the Blenheim-based kaupapa-Māori health charity Manu Ora, highlighted the systemic barriers affecting these statistics. Speaking to RNZ, Dr Simmons noted that while research shows Māori and Pasifika face higher risks for obesity-related conditions, financial constraints and the pressures of poverty often force weight loss lower on the list of health priorities. Currently, only about 2 percent of Manu Ora’s 900 Māori patients utilize the medication. Invercargill resident Kim Tupene, 59, also shared her determination to persevere with her health goals. After securing funding through the Ministry of Social Development, Ms Tupene is navigating the challenges of the medication to achieve better wellness. By sharing these lived experiences, these advocates hope to normalise proactive health management and address the healthcare disparities currently impacting Māori and Pasifika communities.