Event organiser Maturo Siaosi said he had held a similar event two years ago, which proved popular, and while that tournament had been for men only, this time women would be playing too.
Mr Siaosi said with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora South Canterbury sponsoring the event, he hoped this might be the first of many.
He said the players were taking the tournament very seriously, with people out training soon after registrations had gone online.
Volleyball was the second-most favoured sport in parts of the Pacific, and he said it was common to see people playing at family gatherings.
Mr Siaosi said Pasifika men were often hesitant about going to the doctor.
He said sometimes men liked to send their wives in while they sat in the car, which meant they were not getting regular health checks.
At the tournament, nurses would be carrying out blood pressure, sugars and heart checks.
Players could have fun, and vital health checks could be performed.
He knew in the run-up to Christmas there would be other events on, but he hoped people would turn up to support this one.
"You don’t have to be an Islander. Come down and get checked."
The event would be held from 9am-3pm at the Roncalli College gym.
