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Telesia Kalavite imagePhD MEd PGDipEDL (Waikato), PGCertEd BA (USP), DipEd TchgCerts (Tonga)
Nukuleka, Tonga

Pacific 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 2026

  • 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

  • Sione Tangimausia Ma’u, MIndS
  • ‘Elisepa Taukolo, PhD
  • Viliami Ngaluafe, MindS
  • Malia ‘Alisi Tatafu Vea, PhD

Completed

  • Fara Mary Josephine Iati (Nee Pa’o-Sang Yum), MIndS (2025). Talanoa I le mativa: Reclaiming ‘Poverty’ through the stories of Christchurch’s Sāmoan community.
  • ‘Iunisi Talave moe Loto ki Velata Finau, MIndS (2024). Kumi fonua mo e langa ngāue: A literature review of employment opportunities of Tongan people in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
  • Miriama Fa’apopole Matagi Tomasi, MIndS (2024). Plastic Islander: The label that hurts Pacific peoples – An Autoethnographic approach.
  • Elisepa Taukolo, MIndS (2024). University of Otago Pacific Islands Students’ Association: History and Development.
  • Jekope Ramala Maiono, PhD (2023). Fifty years of independence: Indigenous perception on  sustainable land development in Fiji.
  • Eirenei Tiaria Prudence Taua’i (2023). Tausi Matua: Exploring the elder caregiving experiences of Samoans during COVID19 Pandemic.
  • Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten, MIndS (2021). COVID-19 Talanoa: The voices of Tongan kāinga in South Canterbury.
  • Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai, MIndS (2021). The development of Pacific Islands Centre at the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand: A Personal Reflection.

Research grants

  • 2030 - 2026: As member of Pacific Thought Network (PacTNet) University of Otago Research Centre. University of Otago Research Committee Grant for 4 years.
  • 2024 - Division of Humanities Conference/Symposia 2024/2025 funding for APSTE Conference Award
  • 2023 - UORG (University of Otago Research Grant) 2023. The Research Topic is: The implications of changing cultural practices in Tongan wedding celebrations in NZ.
  • 2025 - 2022: PacTNet University of Otago Research Network. University of Otago Research Committee Grant for 4 years.
  • 2021 - 2019: PacTNet - University of Otago Division of Human Research Network grant for 2 years.
  • 2015 - 2010: Hamilton City Council Community grant for a Homework Center known as ‘Fakahalafononga Education Group’ in Hamilton, NZ.
  • 2013: Ministry of Education grant for the University of Waikato research project to evaluate the NZ Early Childhood Education Participation Program Initiative. Prof.Linda Mitchell was the Principal Investigators and theAssociate Investigators s were: Patricia Meagher-Lundberg, Maretta Taylor, Toia Caulcutt, Helena Kara,TelesiaKalavite, and Vanessa Paki.
  • 2006: Ministry of Education grant for Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) research project on the Engagement of key stakeholder groups with the tertiary education providers in New Zealand. Professor Paterson, G.  was the principal investigator and the Associate Investigators were Prof. Oettli, P., Hera White, Telesia Kalavite and Ken Harry.

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

Maiono, J. R., Ruwhiu, D., & Kalavite, T. (2026). Walking the talk in field research: Embracing Fijian values in fieldwork. In D. Hammett & N. Holmes (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of field research. (pp. 250-258). London, UK: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003404903-37 Chapter in Book - Research

Nanau, G., Kalavite, T., & Levy, B. (2025, October). Reimagining Pacific futures. Public panel Tok Stori - Talanoa, Pacific Thought Network, Union Building, Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Public Discussion]. Other Research Output

Seve, N., Kalavite, T., & Potauaine, S. F. K. M. (2025, February). Key papers by Professor Hūfanga-He-Ako-Moe-Lotu Dr ‘Okusitino Māhina. Verbal presentation at the Kātoanga‘i ‘o Tā-Vā Symposium: Celebrating a living legacy of Tā-Vā Time-Space, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Tamatea, K., Berryman, M., Rewi, T., Kalavite, T., & Pasley, A. (2024). Towards a more power-sharing relational response between Tangata Tiriti and Tangata Whenua in education research [Keynote panel]. Proceedings of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE) Conference. Retrieved from https://nzare.org.nz/ Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Kalāvite, T. (2024, September). Indigenous intergenerational relational rhythms: Sustaining Tongan language and culture across time (Tā) and space (Vā) [Tātātulivaka ‘i he fekaukau‘aki ‘a e ngaahi to‘utangata’ ‘i hono fakatolonga ‘o e Lea mo e ‘Ulungaanga Faka-Tonga’ ‘i he taimi’ mo e vahanoa’ (tā mo e vā - time and space)]. PōTatala public lecture, Tonga National University [’Univesiti Fakafonua ’a Tonga], Tonga. [Research Presentation]. Other Research Output

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