Dr Telesia Kalavite, Our people, Te Tumu

PhD MEd PGDipEDL (Waikato), PGCertEd BA (USP), DipEd TchgCerts (Tonga)
Nukuleka, Tonga

Pacific Island Studies Programme Co-ordinator

Contact

Office 4S6 Richardson Building, South Tower
Tel +64 3 479 3974
Email telesia.kalavite@otago.ac.nz

Research

Telesia has a wide range of research capabilities and interests in the disciplines of: Education Studies; Pacific Studies; Social Science; Linguistics; Cultural Studies; and Development Studies.

In particular her interests lie in: Pacific educational development; Pacific students' educational achievement; Education for sustainable development; Educational achievement for migrant communities; Pacific culture; Pacific culture and education for sustainability; Culture and educational achievement; Culture and sustainable development in the Pacific.

Other research interests include: Time-Space Theory of Reality and academic achievement for Pacific peoples; Christianity and educational development; Indigenous development; Language and educational development; Tongan-English translations; Climate change and indigenous development; and Social justice and educational development for migrants.

Teaching for 2023

PACI 103 Languages and Cultures of the Pacific: An Introduction
PACI 210 Special Topic: Pacific Education
PACI 405 Indigenous Leadership in the Pacific

Guest Lecture

PACI 201 Contemporary Pacific Issues
MAOR 213 Te Mana o te Reo

Supervision

Current

Eirenei Taua'i, MIndS
Fara Iati, MIndS
Tarn Felton, MIndS
Jekope Maiono, PhD

Completed

Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai, MIndS (2021). The Development of the Pacific Islands Centre at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand: A Personal Reflection
Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten, MIndS (2021) COVID-19 Talanoa: The Voices of Tongan Kāinga in South Canterbury

Research grants

University of Otago Research Grant (2023). Project Titled: The implications of changing cultural practices in Tongan wedding celebrations in New Zealand

Distinctions

2010–2012: University of Waikato Postdoctoral Fellow
2010: University of Waikato Tertiary Achievement in Pacific Ako (TAPA) Award
2009: University of Waikato TAPA Award
2008: University of Waikato TAPA Award
2006: University of Waikato Pacific Excellence Award
2006: Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) Employee Award
2006–2005: New Zealand Ministry of Education Pacific Postgraduate Study Award
2000: University of Waikato Certificate of Achievement Award
1998–1999: Australian Aid (AUSAID) Scholarship Award for a Masters' degree
1990–1991: AUSAID Scholarship Award to study for a Bachelor's degree
1987–1988: Tonga Government Study Award to study for a Diploma in Education

Publications

Kalavite, T. (2024). Indigenous intergenerational relational rhythms: Sustaining Tongan language and culture across time (Tā) and space (Vā). Art/Research International, 8(2), 636-662. doi: 10.18432/ari29742 Journal - Research Article

Schaaf, R., Kalavite, T., Lei-Mata'afa, S., Nafatali, K., Alai, G., & Anderson, V. (2023, November). Teu le vā Tauhivā: Pacific relationality as a model for ethical practice in academia. Verbal presentation at the 51st Annual Conference of the Oceania Comparative & International Education Society (OCIES), Apia, Samoa. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Kalavite, T. (2023). Creating harmonies in the translations of Alice in Wonderland and The Little Prince into Tongan. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Translators & Interpreters (NZSTI) Conference. Retrieved from https://conference.nzsti.org/ Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Kalāvite, T., & Uele, Ί. M. (2023). Ko e Fie'iló mo hono Ako'i 'o e Lēsoni Tongá 'i he 'Univēsiti 'o 'Ōtakó. Tokoni Faiako / Tonga Journal of Education, 4, 115-138. Journal - Research Article

Kalavite, T. (2022). 'Otua [Translation and translation commentary]. Literature as Translation IV: Translating Anne Enright, European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies (EFACIS). Retrieved from https://enright.efacis.eu/translations/otua Other Research Output

2024

Journal - Research Article

2023

Journal - Research Article

Kalāvite, T., & Uele, Ί. M. (2023). Ko e Fie'iló mo hono Ako'i 'o e Lēsoni Tongá 'i he 'Univēsiti 'o 'Ōtakó. Tokoni Faiako / Tonga Journal of Education, 4, 115-138.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2022

Journal - Research Article

Uele, I. M., & Kalavite, T. (2022). Pōto‘i Taliui ‘a e Faiako Ma‘a Tongá. Tokoni Faiako / Tonga Journal of Education, 3, 61-83.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Kalavite, T., & Uele, I. M. (2022). Pōto’i Taliui ‘a e Faiako Ma’a Tonga. Proceedings of the Talanoa Oceania Conference: Restorying te ao moana. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/a/nomoa.com/talanoa/2022

Kalavite, T. (2022). Language and academic achievement in higher education. Proceedings of the New Zealand Association of Language Teachers (NZALT) Conference. (pp. 63). Retrieved from https://nzalt.org.nz/conference

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Kalavite, T. (2022, November). Books and translation into Pacific languages: The translations of Alice in Wonderland and The Little Prince into the Tongan language: A reflection. Verbal presentation at the University of Otago Centre for the Book Symposium: Books and the Pacific, [Hybrid].

Other Research Output

Kalavite, T. (2022). Lea [Translation and translation commentary]. Literature as Translation IV: Translating Anne Enright, European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies (EFACIS). Retrieved from https://enright.efacis.eu/translations/lea

Kalavite, T. (2022). Taimi [Translation and translation commentary]. Literature as Translation IV: Translating Anne Enright, European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies (EFACIS). Retrieved from https://enright.efacis.eu/translations/taimi

2021

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Ewen, S., Bolt, R., Kalavite, T., & Kukutai, T. (2021, August). Indigenous knowledge and the western academy: Reflections from the field. Panel discussion at the Times Higher Education (THE) Live ANZ: Is This a Turning Point for Higher Education, [Online].

Other Research Output

Pusiaki, M., Kalāvite, T., Fa'avae, D., & Fehoko, E. (2021, 4 August). Fānau 'o e Ope (Internet Generation). Fola-he-Ngalu Webinar (episode 8), The Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga (Siasi Uesiliana Tau'ataina 'o Tonga). Retrieved from https://fwc.to/index.php/webinars

2020

Journal - Research Article

Kalavite, T. (2020). Toungāue cooperative pedagogy for Tongan tertiary students’ success. Waikato Journal of Education, 25(1), 17-29. doi: 10.15663/wje.v25vi1.783

2019

Journal - Research Article

Kalavite, T. (2019). Tongan translation realities across Tā ('time') and Vā ('space'). Journal of New Zealand & Pacific Studies, 7(2), 173-183. doi: 10.1386/nzps_00004_1

Journal - Research Other

Kalavite, T. (2019). [Review of the book Marking indigeneity: The Tongan art of sociospatial relations]. Journal of the Polynesian Society, 128(3), 356-358. doi: 10.15286/jps.128.3.353-362

Other Research Output

Kalavite, T. (2019). Tongan translation of John Banville's "Fiction and the dream". Banville Project: Literature as Translation, The European Federation of Associations and Centres of Irish Studies (EFACIS). Retrieved from https://www.johnbanville.eu/essay/translation/tongan

2018

Authored Book - Research

Kalavite, T. (2018). Ko e Ki'i Pilinisi' [Translation of The little prince. By Antoine De Saint-Exupéry]. Neckarsteinach, Germany: Edition Tintenfaß, 96p.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Kalavite, T. (2018, November). Motivations for translation. Verbal presentation at the University of Otago Centre for the Book Symposium: Translation and Transculturation, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2017

Journal - Research Article

Kalavite, T. (2017). Tā-vā kāinga: Time-space relationships theory of reality and Tongan students journal to academic achievement in New Zealand tertiary education. Pacific Studies, 40(1-2), 79-104.

2015

Chapter in Book - Research

Kalavite, T. (2015). 'Alisi 'i he lea Faka-Tonga: Alice in the Tongan language. In J. A. Lindseth & A. Tannenbaum (Eds.), Alice in a world of Wonderlands: The translations of Lewis Carroll's masterpiece (Vol. 1: Essays). (pp. 598-600). Newcastle, DE: Oak Knoll Press.

Chapter in Book - Other

Kalavite, T. (2015). Tongan (forthcoming): Back-translation and notes by Telisia Kalavite. In J. A. Lindseth & A. Tannenbaum (Eds.), Alice in a world of Wonderlands: The translations of Lewis Carroll's masterpiece (Vol. 2: Back-translations). (pp. 681-684). Newcastle, DE: Oak Knoll Press.

2014

Authored Book - Research

Cocker, S., & Kalavite, T. (2014). Alisi ʻi he Fonua ʻo e Fakaofo [Translation of Alice’s adventures in Wonderland. By Lewis Carroll]. Evertype, 164p.

Chapter in Book - Research

Kalavite, T. (2014). Exploring Pacific-Tongan research approaches. In P. Fairbairn-Dunlop & E. Coxon (Eds.), Talanoa: Building a Pasifika research culture. (pp. 159-177). Auckland, New Zealand: Dunmore.

2013

Commissioned Report for External Body

Mitchell, L., Meagher-Lundberg, P., Taylor, M., Caulcutt, T., Kalavite, T., Kara, H., & Paki, V. (2013). ECE participation programme evaluation: Delivery of ECE participation initiatives: Baseline report. Commissioned by Ministry of Education. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Education. 101p.

2012

Journal - Research Article

Kalavite, T. (2012). Kāinga: An ancient solution for contemporary challenges of Tongan students' academic achievement in New Zealand tertiary education. Journal of Pacific Studies, 32(1), 1-10.

2010

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Kalavite, T. (2010, November-December). Time‐space relationships, ‘‘TĀ‐VĀ KĀINGA’ is an ancient solution for contemporary challenges of Tongan students' academic achievement in NZ tertiary education. Verbal presentation at the Future Challenges, Ancient Solution International Conference, Suva, Fiji.

Kalavite, T. (2010, November). Toungaue (co-operative) model: A Tongan/Pacifika research methodology. Verbal presentation at the Contemporary Ethnography Across the Disciplines (CEAD) Hui, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Kalavite, T. (2010). Fononga'a fakahalafononga: Tongan students' journey to academic achievement in New Zealand tertiary education (PhD). University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/4159

2006

Commissioned Report for External Body

Paterson, G., Mitchell, D., Oettli, P., White, H., Kalavite, T., & Harry, K. (2006). Engagement of key stakeholder groups with the tertiary education providers. Commissioned by Ministry of Education. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Education. 120p.

2005

Chapter in Book - Research

Kalavite, T., & Hoogland, H. (2005). Constraints to academic achievement of Pacific Islands students at the Waikato Institute of Technology in Hamilton, New Zealand. In E. Manalo & G. Wong-Toi (Eds.), Communication skills in university education: The international dimension. (pp. 224-236). Auckland, New Zealand: Pearson Education.