Va'a o Tautai has a diverse team working in New Zealand and the Pacific region on health matters important to Pacific Communities.
Most of our team are based at 71 Frederick Street, Dunedin. Our main entrance is at the back of the building, through the carpark off Malcolm Street.
Google maps for 71 Frederick Street, Dunedin.
Va'a o Tautai Executive
This team provides strategic leadership and oversees academic and support programmes, and regional engagement in the Pacific.
The University of Otago Pacific Strategic Framework 2022-2030 underpins this work.
- VoT Director: Faumuina Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga
Tel +64 3 479 8493
Email directorVoT@otago.ac.nz - VoT Deputy Director: Professor Rosalina Richards
Tel +64 3 479 8493
Email rose.richards@otago.ac.nz - VoT Manager: Fran Cockerell
Tel +64 3 471 6379
Email fran.cockerell@otago.ac.nz - VoT Deputy Manager: Kala Fagasoaia
Tel +64 3 479 5256
Mob +64 21 279 1484
Email kala.fagasoaia@otago.ac.nz - Vot Acting Deputy Director: Malia Lameta (University of Otago House, Auckland)
Mob +64 21 279 1237
Email malia.lameta@otago.ac.nz
Administration
This team provides support across Va'a o Tautai activities.
- Administrator VoT: Barbara Weastell
Tel +64 3 479 8493
Email vot@otago.ac.nz - Academic Administrator: Lydie Leurquin
Tel +64 3 479 4328
Email: centre.pacifichealth@otago.ac.nz - Assistant Research Fellow: Coral Steenkamp
Tel +64 3 479 7018
Mob +64 21 057 8682
Email pacificmed@otago.co.nz - Pacific Regional Coordinator: Leilani Pereira-Moeono
Tel +64 3 479 8493
Mob +64 27 231 2754
Email pacific.region@otago.ac.nz
Student Support
This team supports academic excellence in the Division of Health Sciences and aims to increase the Pacific health workforce through a number of tailored programmes.
More about student support programmes
- Programme Coordinator (POPO Foundation): Kala Fagasoaia
Tel +64 3 479 5256
Mob +64 21 279 1484
Email pfp@otago.ac.nz - Programme Coordinator (POPO Mentoring): Grettel Williams
Tel +64 3 471 6360
Mob +64 21 279 0277
Email popomnt@otago.ac.nz -
Programme Coordinator (POPO Academic): Garrett George
Tel +64 3 479 6360
Mob +64 21 279 1976
Email popo.acd@otago.ac.nz -
Programme Coordinator (POPO Internship): Keenan Masina
Tel +64 3 471 6360
Mob +64 21 279 1709
Email popoint@otago.ac.nz -
Programme Coordinator (POPO External): Malia Lameta
(University of Otago House, Auckland)
Mob +64 21 279 1237
Email popoext@otago.ac.nz - Programme Coordinator: Iacinta Lucas
Tel +64 3 479 6360
Email popo@otago.ac.nz - Tutorial Coordinator: Julia Imo
Email julia.imo@otago.ac.nz
Pacific Health Teaching
This team supports Pacific health teaching across the Division of Health Sciences on the Dunedin Campus.
More about Pacific health teaching
- Senior Lecturer and Pacific Nation Liaison: Dr Kati Blattner
Mob +64 21 457736
Email katharina.blattner@otago.ac.nz - Instructional Designer: Michael Lameta
Tel +64 3 479 8493
Email michael.lameta@otago.ac.nz - Professional Practice Fellow: Talai Mapusua
Tel +64 3 479 4328
Email talai.mapusua@otago.ac.nz - Professional Practice Fellow: Dr Iris Wainiqolo
Tel +64 3 479 4328
Email iris.wainiqolo@otago.ac.nz - Professional Practice Fellow: Dr Letava Tafuna’i
Tel +64 3 479 4328
Email letava.tafunai@otago.ac.nz
Pacific Health Research
This team supports Pacific health research across the Division of Health Sciences on the Dunedin campus.
More about Pacific health research
- Research Fellow: Dr Kim Cousins
Tel +64 3 479 4328
Email kim.cousins@otago.ac.nz - Professional Practice Fellow: Dr Allamanda Faatoese (Christchurch campus)
Tel +64 3 364 0530
Email allamanda.faatoese@otago.ac.nz - Research Fellow: Dr Molly George
Tel +64 3 479 4328
Email molly.george@otago.ac.nz - Senior Research Fellow: Dr Jesse Kokaua
Tel +64 3 479 4328
Email jesse.kokaua@otago.ac.nz - Senior Research Fellow: Dr Shyamala Nada-Raja
Tel +64 3 479 4328
Email shyamala.nada-raja@otago.ac.nz - Professor Pauline Norris
Tel +64 3 479 4328
Email pauline.norris@otago.ac.nz - Research Fellow: Dr Vanda Symon
Tel +64 3 479 4328
Email vanda.symon@otago.ac.nz
Takiala Pacific Health Leadership Network
The Takiala Pacific Health Leadership Network comprises all the Associate Deans Pacific in the Division of Health Sciences. This group provides the strategic leadership for Pacific development and regional engagement for the Division.
- Dr Xaviour Walker Associate Dean Pacific, Division of Health Sciences
- Dr Letava Tafuna’i
, Associate Dean Pacific, Dunedin School of Medicine
Email letava.tafunai@otago.ac.nz - Dr Kiki Maote Associate Dean Pacific, University of Otago, Christchurch
- Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu Associate Dean Pacific, University of Otago, Wellington
- Vacant position, Associate Dean Pacific, School of Pharmacy
- Charleen Silcock, Associate Dean Pacific, School of Physiotherapy
Email charleen.silcock@otago.ac.nz - Dr Latika Samalia, Associate Dean Pacific (Academic), School of Biomedical Sciences
- Dr Allamanda Fa’atoese, Associate Dean Pacific (Strategic), School of Biomedical Sciences
- Dr Htin Lin Aung, Associate Dean Pacific (Research), School of Biomedical Sciences
- Professor Darryl Tong, Associate Dean Pacific, Faculty of Dentistry
