Rate My Professor Telesia Kalavite

Dr Telesia Kalavite serves as the Pacific Studies Programme Co-ordinator and Lecturer at Te Tumu, School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies within the Division of Humanities at the University of Otago. A Tongan from Nukuleka in Tongatapu, she holds a PhD, Master of Education (MEd), and Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership (PGDipEDL) from the University of Waikato, a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCertEd) and Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of the South Pacific, a Diploma in Education (DipEd) from Tonga, and Teaching Certificates from Tonga. With over four decades of teaching experience across primary, secondary, and tertiary levels in Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia, her career includes a University of Waikato Postdoctoral Fellowship (2010–2012), research projects at the University of Waikato evaluating early childhood education participation and stakeholder engagement with tertiary providers (2013, 2006), and contributions to Waikato Institute of Technology initiatives. She currently supervises postgraduate students, including PhD candidates such as ‘Elisepa Taukolo and Malia ‘Alisi Tatafu Vea, and has guided multiple Master of Indigenous Studies theses from 2021 to 2025.

Dr Kalavite's research spans Pacific educational development, achievement of Pacific students, education for sustainable development, culture and educational achievement, Tongan-English translations, Time-Space Theory of Reality (Tā Vā) and academic success for Pacific peoples, Christianity and educational development, indigenous development, language and educational development, climate change impacts on indigenous development, and social justice for migrant education. Key publications include 'Indigenous Intergenerational Relational Rhythms: Sustaining Tongan Language and Culture Across Time (Tā) and Space (Vā)' (Art/Research International, 2024), 'Walking the Talk in Field Research: Embracing Fijian Values in Fieldwork' (Routledge Handbook of Field Research, 2026, co-authored with J.R. Maiono and D. Ruwhiu), and 'Toungāue Cooperative Pedagogy for Tongan Tertiary Students' Success' (Waikato Journal of Education, 2020). She teaches PACI 103 Languages and Cultures of the Pacific, PACI 210 Special Topic: Pacific Education, and PACI 405 Indigenous Leadership in the Pacific. Awards encompass University of Waikato Tertiary Achievement in Pacific Ako Awards (2010, 2009, 2008), Pacific Excellence Award (2006), University of Otago Research Grants including UORG (2023) on changing Tongan wedding practices and Pacific Thought Network grants (2022–2025, 2019–2021), AUSAID Scholarships for MEd (1998–1999) and BA (1990–1991), and New Zealand Ministry of Education Pacific Postgraduate Study Award (2005–2006).