Bale Kito, third from left, celebrates winning this year’s Richard Kammann Wellbeing Prize with friends Viliame Ngaluafe, Viliame Tuisuva and Dr Edmond Fehoko. Bale is holding a photo of Associate Professor Damian Scarf who nominated Bale for prize.
Winning this year’s Richard Kammann Wellbeing Prize is bittersweet for Bale Kito.
An honours student in the Department of Psychology, Bale was nominated by his supervisor, Associate Professor Damian Scarf, who died in December.
“I had no idea about the award until I received the email saying I’d won,” Bale says.
“This one is especially emotional for me … I never expected this, particularly right after finishing my undergraduate degree, where there are so many others who have done so much more than me.”
The win has left Bale feeling humble.
“I’ve dedicated my Honours year to Professor Damian, who saw potential in me that other professors, particularly Pākehā ones, may not have.
“This project focuses on something that Professor Damian and I often discussed and explored together - kava.”
Bale’s research is titled: “Vanua ni gunu Yaqona”: Exploring Kava Circles as an Identity Marker for Pacific Males in Higher Education in Aotearoa, New Zealand. The research will look at the use of kava and the role it plays in wellbeing for Pacific men, and the perspectives of Fijian men on the strengths and harms of digital wellbeing.
“My work investigates how Pacific male students have used traditional kava practices to help manage their academic journey and support their mental health and wellbeing being away from home.”
Bale is proud that he has been able to break down barriers and start a conversation on a topic Pacific men can struggle with – wellbeing, proving just how important research on and promotion of wellbeing is.
“Wellbeing isn’t just about personal health. It’s about creating environments where people can thrive mentally, emotionally, and academically.
“Promoting wellbeing helps break cycles of stress, burnout, and isolation, particularly for students and communities who may not have the same support systems. We need to remember that to help others, we must first ensure they are in a place of strength.”
Bale says Damian demonstrated how powerful it is to lead with care and empathy, particularly in spaces where people may feel underrepresented.
Bale moved from Fiji to Aotearoa New Zealand when he was three years old. He intended to complete his bachelor’s degree and leave Ōtepoti, however that plan changed when Damian and Senior Lecturer Edmond Fehoko showed him the “true value” of his research.
“To have my research recognised in such a meaningful way, especially with the nomination from Professor Damian, feels like validation for the work I’ve put in and the passion I’ve put behind it.
“His belief in me and my work gave me the confidence to push forward, even when I wasn’t sure of myself. His support has been a key part of this journey, and I’m incredibly grateful for it and I will miss him.
Damian’s passing has been “deeply emotional and surreal”, he says.
“He wasn’t just a supervisor or a mentor he was a father figure, he was someone who truly believed in me when I didn’t fully believe in myself.”
Damian’s guidance went beyond academic advice, and it nurtured Bale.
“He always put my wellbeing first, something I will forever be grateful for. His loss has left a space that feels impossible to fill, both in my heart and in my journey as a scholar. What makes his passing even harder is that he never got to see the potential of his influence on me come to see where I’m going.
“But I carry his lessons with me every day, especially the importance of empathy, integrity, and putting people first. I dedicate this work to him because it’s not just a reflection of my research, but of everything he did for me. His belief in me has shaped the person I am today, and for that, I’ll be eternally grateful.”
The Richard Kammann Wellbeing Prize was founded in 1986 in memory of Associate Professor Richard Kammann who taught in the Department of Psychology at the University of Otago and whose research interests included the application of psychology to human happiness, well-being, and real-world behaviour.
Past winners:
Wellbeing at heart of annual prize