Rate My Professor Terry Pouono

Dr Terry Pouono serves as Lecturer in Pacific Theology at the University of Otago’s Theology Programme, marking the institution’s first appointment to this Pacific-focused role, and also acts as Pacific Student Support Officer. His academic background encompasses a PhD in Theology from the University of Auckland, with a doctoral thesis entitled “‘Coconut water in a Coca Cola bottle’: In search of an identity: A New Zealand-born Samoan Christian in a globalized world.” Additional qualifications include a Master’s in Ecumenical Studies from the Bose Ecumenical Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, a Bachelor of Divinity from Malua Theological College in Samoa, a BA from the University of Auckland, and a NZ Certificate in Adult Tertiary Teaching from Manukau Institute of Technology.

Before joining the University of Otago in early 2025, supported by the Longview Trust, Dr Pouono taught theology for six years at Malua Theological College in Samoa following his studies in Geneva, and more recently lectured at Laidlaw College in Auckland. He currently teaches CHTH 237/337 Special Topic: Moana Pasifika Theology and PAST 225/325 Special Topic: Pastoral Theology: Moana-Pacific Perspectives, planning to introduce further courses such as the History of Christianity in the Pacific in 2026. Dr Pouono’s research specializations include Pacific churches in the contemporary world, Pacific theology, Majority World Theology, Pacific history, and the Pacific diaspora in New Zealand, emphasizing the Church’s significance in Pacific communities. He supervises postgraduate students on related topics, including PhD theses on Polynesian Gen-Z Christians and Samoan church responses to social disparities. Notable publications are “Shincheonji in the Pacific: A threat to Christian harmony in Pacific communities” in the Australian Journal of Mission Studies (2025), “Lost in translation: Navigating our sea of islands in a catamaran…but where is my waka?” in the Samoa Journal of Theology (2024), “Big is beautiful: Health and well-being in Pacific communities” in Dialog (2024), “Faith and works … Or works and faith? A performative faith in Samoan Churches” in Religions (2024), and “Faith and works... or is it works and faith? Discerning an authentic expression of faith in the Samoan Church” in IAFOR Proceedings (2023).