Tofi, UKayes, NMWilson, BJ2025-07-012025-07-012025-05-23New Zealand Medical Journal, ISSN: 0028-8446 (Print); 1175-8716 (Online), Pasifika Medical Association Group, 138(1615), 95-105. doi: 10.26635/6965.66970028-84461175-8716http://hdl.handle.net/10292/19446Aim: To explore the perspectives and experiences of Māori and Pacific allied health professionals (AHPs) regarding what enables them to thrive or flourish in their first 2 years of practice, within a large public hospital setting. Methods: A qualitative study grounded in shared Māori and Pacific peoples’ values and practices was undertaken, which drew on tenets of appreciative inquiry (AI) with thematic analysis of wānanga talanoa (referring to traditional and culturally informed Māori and Pacific processes, which provide a physically, spiritually and culturally safe space for discussion, knowledge sharing and co-creating meaning). Participants were Māori or Pacific AHPs (n=11) employed at a publicly funded, urban health organisation. results: Three interrelated themes were constructed, including: 1) valuing cultural intelligence, 2) surviving, rather than thriving, and 3) it takes a village. Participants provided a range of ideas for how things could be different, which underpin tangible recommendations for health organisations to support Māori and Pacific AHPs to thrive. Conclusion: Informed by both Māori and Pacific peoples’ values and principles, this study highlighted experiences, challenges and opportunities relevant to thriving as Māori and Pacific AHPs in their first 2 years of practice. Rather than minimising the impact that negative experiences of ongoing colonisation and racism have on AHP wellbeing, the purposefully adopted strengths-based approach highlighted collective strengths and solutions for positive change.Free/ Open Access. The New Zealand Medical Journal is fully available to individual subscribers and does not incur a subscription fee. Copyright © 2025 The New Zealand Medical Journal4203 Health Services and Systems42 Health Sciences11 Medical and Health SciencesGeneral & Internal Medicine32 Biomedical and clinical sciences42 Health sciencesWorkforcePacific Health (Pacific)Māori Health (Māori)KaimahiHealth SystemsCultural SafetyAdultFemaleHumansMaleAllied Health PersonnelAttitude of Health PersonnelMaori PeopleNew ZealandQualitative ResearchJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.26635/6965.6697