Cultural identity is critical says NY Honours recipient

A prominent Pacific researcher and poet is one of fourteen Pacific New Zealanders recognised in the country's New Year Honours awards.

A prominent Pacific researcher and poet is one of fourteen Pacific New Zealanders recognised in the country's New Year Honours awards.

Dr Karlo Mila, who's of Tongan, Samoan and Palagi descent, is currently the head of a leadership programme for mid-career Pacific leaders.

But for more than twenty years, she's worked to research cultural identities of Pacific islanders and second-generation Pacific New Zealanders.

Dr Mila, who has become a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, said her research has constantly shown that cultural identity is critical.

"Pacific high school students that were proud of their own identities were 50 percent less likely to have made a suicide attempt in the previous year. And those who felt accepted by their own culture and by others just generally were 70 percent less likely to make a suicide attempt," she said.