Celebrating lotomatala Niue knowledge in community and researcher collaborations

Authors

  • Jess Pasisi Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago
  • Lisimoni Birtha Togahai University of the South Pacific
  • Ioane Aleke Fa‘avae Unitec
  • Inangaro Vakaafi Independent scholar
  • Rennie Jonathan Unimotu Atfield-Douglas Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6981-5760
  • Cora-Allan Lafaiki Twiss Independent researcher and arts practitioner

Keywords:

collaboration, epistemology, Pacific methodologies, Indigenous knowledge

Abstract

Niue knowledge is powerful, valuable and vast. More and more tau tagata Niue (people ancestrally connected to Niue) are making space in academia and putting Niue at the centre of their research practice. It is vital to engage in generative and critical discussions about what Niue knowledge is and how tau tagata Niue practice, perceive and experience Niue knowledge. Reclaiming and celebrating Niue-centred knowledge in spaces for community and academics requires more scholarly attention. Scholarship must rise to meet Niue knowledge where and how it exists. As tau tagata Niue living and working across Niue and Aotearoa New Zealand, we use this paper to record our respective understandings and experiences of learning, teaching and sharing Niue knowledge and our collaborative work in organising two Niue knowledge gatherings. We reflect on the Matala e Toume symposium that took place in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, December 2022, and the Matala e Toume conference in Niue, November 2024. We detail how these two gatherings of Niue people, research and practice connected elder and younger generations and enabled creative and critical discussions of Niue knowledge.

Author Biographies

Jess Pasisi, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka | University of Otago

Jess Pasisi (Niue, Ngāti Pikiao, Mā‘ohi) is a pūkenga (lecturer) in Pacific studies at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka University of Otago. Her research work primarily focuses on Niue. Her PhD at the University of Waikato engaged with Niue women’s experiences and knowledge of climate change. Following her PhD, Jess gained a prestigious Pacific postdoctoral fellowship from the Health Research Council of New Zealand to research tau tagata Niue (Niue people’s) conceptualisations and experiences of happiness. Her current Marsden-funded research project is mapping Niue texts throughout time and engaging Niue people with tau tagata Niue–created texts.

Lisimoni Birtha Togahai, University of the South Pacific

Lisimoni Birtha Togahai is the coordinator for the certificate in Niue and Niue master’s programme at the University of the South Pacific, Niue campus. She formerly was director of the Department of Education in Niue and has held many education- and language-related positions. She also coordinated several elders’ writing groups in Niue as well as being active in other community roles.

Ioane Aleke Fa‘avae, Unitec

Ioane Aleke Fa‘avae (Mutalau) is currently an academic development lecturer Pacific as well as interim team leader for Pacific success at Unitec. Until recent funding cuts, he was teaching a successful tertiary-level Vagahau Niue language course through the Manukau Institute of Technology, the only Vagahau course at tertiary level offered in the whole of Aotearoa. Ioane is also the president of the Mutalau Ululauta Matahefonua Trust and advises on Niue language curriculum for NCEA.

Inangaro Vakaafi, Independent scholar

Inangaro Vakaafi, of Mutalau, Niue and Kūki ‘Āirani heritage, was born, raised and educated on the island of Niue. With a professional background in journalism and broadcasting, she currently serves as a radio producer for the Pacific Media Network’s 531pi brand and also contributes to the network’s Niue language programme team. Inangaro also tutors Vagahau Niue online courses for the Centre for Pacific Languages (CPL) and works as a Vagahau interpreter for Straker Interpreting. Additionally, she has served as a language cultural consultant on various projects and studies in Niue and Aotearoa. Inangaro is also author of the children’s book Hunt for Niu Tupu (Mila’s Books, 2025).

Rennie Jonathan Unimotu Atfield-Douglas, Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland

Rennie Jonathan Unimotu Atfield-Douglas (Hakupu, Avatele, Hikutavake, Niue) has a BA(Hons) in Pacific studies where he explored the reasons for which Niue opted for self-government in free association with New Zealand in 1974. He is now beginning his PhD in health economics focusing on Niue people’s experience of this. Professionally, Rennie has held a range of roles at the University of Auckland and worked for a number of years to support Pacific student success. As a developing Niue scholar and historian, his interests lie in deepening understanding of Pacific histories and contributing to the development of the Pacific economy.

Cora-Allan Lafaiki Twiss, Independent researcher and arts practitioner

Cora-Allan Lafaiki Twiss is of Māori and Niue descent, residing in Waitākere, Aotearoa. In recent years she has been working on developing knowledge around Niue hiapo as a researcher and arts practitioner. Cora-Allan has a thriving hiapo practice with a focus on creating ceremonial tiputa for tagata Niue; for the Niue 50th Pulefakamotu her family presented Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi with a traditional tiputa of her design. She was awarded a Creative New Zealand Pacific Heritage Artist Award (2020), was selected to participate in the Parehuia residency (2021) and won a Springboard award from Te Tumu Toi Arts Foundation (2021).

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Published

2025-05-28

Issue

Vol. 134 No. 1 (2025): Waka Kuaka | Journal of the Polynesian Society

Section

Articles

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