Manalagi project a safe space for Pacific rainbow communities
18 November 2022
Pacific rainbow communities experience a raft of health and well-being challenges. Manalagi creates a safe space to communicate health needs.
![Patrick Thomsen and Jim Metson](/content/auckland/en/news/2022/11/18/manalagi-project-safe-space-for-pacific-rainbow-communities/_jcr_content/leftpar/imagecomponent/image.img.480.low.jpg/1669251992585.jpg)
Patrick Thomsen's research is centred on tautua or service to marginalised communities. He works at the intersection of queer, Pacific, Asian and global studies. Manalagi is a project to build a safe space to listen to the Pacific rainbow communities and understand their unique needs for their health and well-being.
Patrick Thomsen's work was acknowledged with an Early Career Research Excellence Award at the University's 2022 Celebrating Research Excellence ceremony.
![](/content/auckland/en/news/2022/11/18/manalagi-project-safe-space-for-pacific-rainbow-communities/_jcr_content/leftpar/imagecomponent_1758798307/image.img.480.low.jpg/1668740963935.jpg)