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
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. (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
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
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].
Uele, I. M., & Kalavite, T. (2022). Pōto‘i Taliui ‘a e Faiako Ma‘a Tongá. Tokoni Faiako / Tonga Journal of Education, 3, 61-83.
Kalavite, T. (2018). Ko e Ki'i Pilinisi' [Translation of The little prince. By Antoine De Saint-Exupéry]. Neckarsteinach, Germany: Edition Tintenfaß, 96p.
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.
Authored 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 - 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.
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.
Chapter in Book - Research
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.
Chapter in Book - Other
Uele, I. M., & Kalavite, T. (2022). Pōto‘i Taliui ‘a e Faiako Ma‘a Tongá. Tokoni Faiako / Tonga Journal of Education, 3, 61-83.
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
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 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.
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.
Journal - Research Article
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
Journal - Research Other
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 - 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
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
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].
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].
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.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
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.
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.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
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.
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.
Commissioned Report for External Body
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
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
Other Research Output
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
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
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
Other Research Output
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
Awarded Doctoral Degree
