All Blacks lock and Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu is urging Pasifika to get vaccinated against COVID-19, as the Pacific community lags behind in overall numbers.
New Zealand's vaccination statistics show that 77 percent of the eligible Pacific population have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with 53 percent fully vaccinated.
Those numbers are down on New Zealand's overall statistics, with 82.7 percent of eligible Kiwis having received their first dose, and 59.3 percent receiving both.
Doctor Vanisi Prescott told Newshub Nation on Saturday that trust for the vaccine among the Pasifika community is on the rise, and to look to Pacific neighbours Fiji for inspiration.
And as part of New Zealand's 'Super Saturday,' encouraging Kiwis to get vaccinated, the Blues' captain is adding his voice to the chorus urging Pasifika that getting the COVID jab is the right thing to do.
"One of the hardest things, especially in our community, is getting people motivated to actually get up off the chair, get out of their house, and go and get vaccinated," Tuipulotu tells Newshub.
"It's quite easy to fall into the trap of listening or getting around fake news and conspiracy theories about vaccinations, and what it's done in the past.
"We've got to believe the facts, and part of that is down to the science. When you look through history, at the flu jab, at vaccines for many other things through our history, this is just another part of moving forward."
Tuipulotu also adds that it's important for the All Blacks to use their profile and status in New Zealand for the right cause, with more than one player lending their voice to Saturday's Vaxathon efforts.
"A lot of people see us as role models and key people in everyone's lives - especially here in New Zealand.
"It's important that, as we do on the field make huge gains there, off the field with this sort of stuff, it's important we do the same.
"We've got to lead the way, and sometimes we've got to take a stand and have that stand somewhere. Being a part of this, in this day and age, it's very important for us going ahead as a whole country.
"I can't stress enough how important it is that we need to do this for a better New Zealand for us to go forwards."
Aotearoa's current record vaccination doses in one day is 93,000 jabs, but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she's planning to have 100,000 administered on Saturday.
Click here for live coverage of New Zealand's Super Saturday Vaxathon.
