Born in Savusavu, on Fiji’s Vanua Levu, he was the eldest child. Dr Api Talemaitoga studied medicine at the University of Otago obtaining a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB). Dr Talemaitoga has in his time, contributed to the National Health Committee’s advice on the management of long term conditions, worked in the Pacific both as a personal physician to Fijian leaders and, more recently across the Melanesian and Polynesian region, facilitating access to specialist services in New Zealand. Dr Talemaitoga also served on the Board of the Canterbury District Health Board, the Board of the RNZCGP from 2014-17 and was Chief Advisor, Pacific Health at the Ministry of Health 2008-13. In 2017 Api was awarded a Distinguished Fellowship for outstanding and sustained services to the College and medical profession. Apart from clinical practice, Api Chairs the Pasifika GP Network and the Pacific Chapter of the RNZCGP and recently became a member of New Zealand's COVID-19 Surveillance and Testing Strategy Group.