Samoans in New Zealand and other Pacific leaders and medical practitioners have backed Sir Collin Tukuitonga's decision to resign from his government advisory roles.

Sir Tukitonga made the announcement on Monday saying he did not want to work for the new government as he had no confidence in it.

“They are not going to treat Pacific people well and I want to be free to speak up and speak out," Sir Collin told RNZ Pacific.

Former Minister of Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio was admittedly surprised by Sir Collin's resignation but said: "I fully understand it".

"It is better that he is outside not chairing the [Te Whatu Ora] Pacific Senate. As a professional and clinician you want that voice to critique the government's new direction in terms of health," Aupito said.

Aupito said the resignation had caused "some nervousness within the Pacific community".

''They [Pasifika] need a strong sense of certainty from this government. There is some mixed messaging coming from different ministers.

"National is trying to unite those divergent views. It is quite hard and messy. We would hope as voters that they become a co-ordinated government that speaks with one voice and not three different voices.

"They are quite content to allow for a minority group to die from smoking and say well it is their personal responsibility, without any regard to the data that shows how addictive the drugs are in cigarettes and it is hard for anybody to stop."

Aupito told RNZ that he suspected there may be more resignations to come and it was important for some to remain to "fight from inside".

Christchurch-based Pacific community advocate Melissa Lama said she was "very sad and gutted" that Sir Collin had stepped down.

Although she "understood his perspective and respected his courage and heart", she was adamant to get back into the public sector and influence policies for Pasifika.

"I am willing to work in this space. I haven't been in the sector for three years but I want back in because of the changing government. I feel like this is the time we need to hold space for Pacific people," she told RNZ.

"There has got to be a better way so we can still have a voice for our community.Sir Collin should not have to leave his space to speak authentically for our people and I hope that will change in the public sector."