Candice Apelu Mariner

Candice Apelu Mariner is the General Manager of Pacific Health Services Hutt Valley (PHSHV), where she spearheads strategic initiatives and operational management to improve health outcomes for Pacific communities in the Hutt Valley region. PHSHV is the only Pacific-led health and social service provider in a region serving a population of 160,000, including 17,000 Pacific people. Under Candice's leadership, the organization delivers culturally responsive healthcare and social services, drawing from Pacific cultural models of care and fostering robust partnerships with General Practices, hospital specialists, social service providers, Pacific communities, and government agencies.

Candice is passionate about leveraging data, digital innovation, and health systems integration to optimize healthcare delivery and outcomes. She advocates for community-led models of care that prioritize culturally competent, patient-centered solutions.

With over 20 years of experience in the community development and health sector, Candice holds a Master’s in Health Service Management and a Postgraduate Diploma in Social Sector Evaluation Research. She has served as a Principal Advisor across two District Health Boards, providing strategic expertise in healthcare policy and service design. As the former Services and Integrated Manager for one of Wellington’s largest Primary Health Organizations, she focused on improving care coordination and accessibility for Pacific communities.

Candice is a strong advocate for health equity and strives to empower individuals from diverse backgrounds, with a commitment to fostering transformational change through collaboration, respect, and a shared purpose. Her leadership is informed by the Tongan "Toulanganga" model, which values collectivism, reciprocity, and respect in driving community-centered change.

Beyond her work in health, Candice consults with governments in Samoa, and the wider Pacific region on leveraging sport as a tool for social development and community empowerment.