Dr Michelle Schaaf, Our people, Te Tumu

BA BCom DipArts MA PhD (Otago)
Tongan and Samoan

Associate Dean (Pacific) Humanities
Master of Indigenous Studies Programme (MIndS) Co-ordinator

Contact

Office 4S5 Richardson Building, South Tower
Tel +64 3 479 8805
Email michelle.schaaf@otago.ac.nz

Research

Michelle's research interests include Pacific Islands women and education, and the representation of Polynesian female body image with particular reference to sport in New Zealand.

Teaching

PACI 301 Gafa o Tagata Pasifika – Pacific Diaspora in New Zealand
PACI 201 Contemporary Pacific Island Issues
PACR 101 Pacific Realities and University Learning

Guest lectures in various papers including:

INDV 301 Māori and Indigenous Development: Governance and Ethics
MAOR 102 Māori Society
MFCO 318 Indigenous Media
PACI 101 Pacific Societies
POPH 192 Population Heath

Supervision

Current

Raphael Richter-Gravier, PhD (with Michael Reilly), Manu narratives of Polynesia. A comparative study of birds in 300 traditional Polynesian stories
Shona Kapea-Maslin, PhD (with Michael Reilly), Kākahu: The Threads that Bind them all
Ravana Saifofoi, MIndS, Pillars of Success: An Analysis of Pacific Students' Success within Tertiary Education in Canberra, Australia
Stormey Wehi, MIndS (with Karyn Paringatai), Māori Memes and Money: the commodification of Māori Bodies
Eirenei Tau'ai, MIndS, Living with kidney disease: A Thirteen Year Journey

Completed

Olataga Efu, PhD (with Murray Rae and Colin Gibson), The Language and Theology of the Samoan Methodist Hymn Book: Circumscribing Hymnal Translation from a Postcolonial Perspective (2018)
Sophie Karangaroa, MIndS, Effective Retention and Completion Strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander University Students at Australian Universities (2017)
Isabel Radka, MIndS, Progress Towards the Revival of te reo Māori in the Rural Aotearoa/New Zealand Education System of the 21st Century (2017)
Erica Anderson, PhD (with Michael Reilly), Domestic Violence and the law in Rarotonga: The psychological impacts on Cook Islands Women (2015)
Malia Lameta, MA, I Am The Apple Of My Brother's Eye: An investigation into the evolving roles of Samoan women with particular reference to religion and gender relations (2015)
Ane Tatu, BA(Hons), Are you Dongan or Tongan? (2015)
Marsa Dodson, PhD (with Michael Reilly), (2014)
Delyn Day, PhD (with Poia Rewi and Jim Williams), A Kui mā, a Koro mā: he wānanga I te momo iranga I ētahi kōrero Māori o nehe: The function of gender in ancient Māori narratives to create codified and metaphorical meaning (2012)
Esmay Eteuati, MIndS (with Associate Professor Henny Bryant-Tokalau), E te sau ma ou fa'aniusila na…You bring with you your New Zealand ways. Roots migration and its impact on Samoan identity affirmation (2010)
Charis Brown, MIndS, Cultural Appropriation: Use of Minority Culture Within a Commercial Environment (2006)
Julie Segi, MIndS, What is Feagaiga? Understanding a Samoan Practice with a Particular Reference to the Sister Role (2004)
Malia Lameta, BA(Hons), The changing role of Samoan women in Samoan society (2006)

Research grants

Health Research Council of New Zealand and Pasifika Medical Conference. Sponsorship Travel Grant $918.76 (2006). Project title: Notions of the Pacific Island Female body and the impact on the Pacific participation in the sport of netball
Schaaf, M. (2002). Division of Humanities Research Grant, University of Otago, ($1,500.00). Project title: Pacific Island Women, Body Image and Sport
Schaaf, M. with Hilary Rader, Erika Wold, Ojeya Cruz Banks and Natalie Poland (2012). Division of Humanities Research Grant, University of Otago, ($5,975.00). Project title: The Art of Shigeyuki Kihara: A Research Symposium
Schaaf, M with Claire Freeman, Christine Ergler, Michelle Schaaf, Anita Latai (2018), UORG 2018 ($27, 368.00). Project title: Childhood in a changing Pacific

Distinctions

Nominated for OUSA Teaching Award 2016 and 2017
Recipient of OUSA Inaugural Summer School 2016 Teaching Excellence Awards: Most Inclusive Teacher

Publications

Te Awhe-Downey, L., Thompson-Fawcett, M., & Schaaf, M. (2023). Ko wai au? Encouraging sense of belonging amongst Māori diaspora: A whānau-based rangahau. Proceedings of the Graduate Research Student Symposium. (pp. 25-26). Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/graduate-research Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Schaaf, R., Kalavite, T., Lei-Mata'afa, S., Nafatali, K., Alai, G., & Anderson, V. (2023, November). Teu le vā Tauhivā: Pacific relationality as a model for ethical practice in academia. Verbal presentation at the 51st Annual Conference of the Oceania Comparative & International Education Society (OCIES), Apia, Samoa. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Richards, R., Walter, I., Finigan, A., Ruhe, T., Avia, L., Schaaf, M., & Fehoko, E. (Eds.). (2023). Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices XX. Dunedin, New Zealand: Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. 44p. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/16433 Conference Contribution - Edited volume of conference proceedings

Freeman, C., Ergler, C., Latai-Niusulu, A., Schaaf, M., Tanielu, H., & Taua'a, S. (2023). Cross-cultural ethics: Working with Pacific Island children [Contribution to the article Expanding the scope of ethical research with and for children and young people: Six viewpoints on crisis, cross-cultural working and reciprocity]. Children's Geographies. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/14733285.2023.2259331 Journal - Research Other

Freeman, C., Latai Niusulu, A., Ergler, C., Schaaf, M., Taua'a, T. S., & Tanielu, H. (2023). Pacific Island children: The use of maps in helping better understand children's lives. Asia Pacific Viewpoint. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1111/apv.12379 Journal - Research Article

2023

Journal - Research Article

Freeman, C., Latai Niusulu, A., Schaaf, M., Taua'a, T. S., Tanielu, H., Ergler, C., & Kivalu, M. (2023). Identity, belonging and place attachment amongst Pacific Island children: A photographic analysis. Children's Geographies, 21(2), 271-286. doi: 10.1080/14733285.2022.2039900

Journal - Research Other

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Conference Contribution - Edited volume of conference proceedings

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

2022

Chapter in Book - Research

McIntyre, L., Schaaf, M., Schaaf, M., Marsters, C. P. E., Scarf, D., Quensell, J., & Jones, S. (2022). Mental health in Pasifika adolescents: Understanding this group within a rugby team environment. In D. Scarf (Ed.), Adventure education and positive youth development in Aotearoa, New Zealand. (pp. 141-154). New York, NY: Nova. doi: 10.52305/DNIB7572

Journal - Research Article

Freeman, C., Latai Niusulu, A., Schaaf, M., Taua'a, T. S., Tanielu, H., Ergler, C., & Kivalu, M. (2022). Kinship and belonging: Pacific children’s perspectives on the diaspora. Childhood, 29(4), 612-627. doi: 10.1177/09075682221121681

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Schaaf, R. M. (2022). Covid 19 Talanoa: The significance of Pacific community engagement in enabling University of Otago Humanities Pacific students to navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceedings of the Talanoa Oceania Conference: Restorying te ao moana. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/a/nomoa.com/talanoa/2022

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Pasisi, J., Lujan Bennett, J., Ieremia-Allan, W., Schaaf, M., & Taito, M. (2022, November). Critical conversations about Indigenous Pacific books and where to obtain them. Panel discussion at the University of Otago Centre for the Book Symposium: Books and the Pacific, [Hybrid].

2021

Conference Contribution - Edited volume of conference proceedings

Colombo, M., Vakaoti, P., Richards, R., Schaaf, M., Taumoepeau, M., & Moata'ane, L. (Eds.). (2021). Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices XVIII. Dunedin, New Zealand: Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. 48p. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/16236

2020

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Freeman, C., Latai, A., Schaaf, M., Tauaa Tuiloma, S., Tanielu Mallo, H., Ergler, C., & Kivalu, M. (2020). The Pacific diaspora and transnational families: Pacific children's perspectives. Proceedings of the New Zealand Geographical Society (NZGS) Biennial Conference. (pp. 87-88). Retrieved from https://nzgsconference2020.gitlab.io

Conference Contribution - Edited volume of conference proceedings

Finigan, A., Vakaoti, P., Richards, R., Schaaf, M., Colombo, M., Taumoepeau, M., & Moata'ane, L. (Eds.). (2020). Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices XVII. Dunedin, New Zealand: Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. 48p. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/pacific

2019

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Kivalu, M. J., Freeman, C., Schaaf, M., Ergler, C., Latai, A., Tauaa, T. S., & Tanielu, M. H. (2019). Childhood in a changing Pacific. In A. Finigan, P. Vakaoti, R. Richards & M. Schaaf (Eds.), Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices XVI. (pp. 17). Dunedin, New Zealand: The Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/pacific

Conference Contribution - Edited volume of conference proceedings

Finigan, A., Vakaoti, P., Richards, R., & Schaaf, M. (Eds.). (2019). Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices XVI. Dunedin, New Zealand: The Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. 48p. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/pacific

2018

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Schaaf, M. (2018). The Pacific sport's body and physicality: Body size/shape: Surviving fatness and browness. Proceedings of the Public Health Summer School Presentations: Emerging Issues for Te-Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa. Retrieved from https://www.otago.ac.nz/wellington/otago671659.pdf

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Schaaf, M. (2018, February). Introduction to Pacific diasporas. Verbal presentation at the Public Health Summer School Presentations: Emerging Issues for Te-Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa, Wellington, New Zealand.

Other Research Output

Schaaf, M. (2018, September). Working together: Female champions of Dunedin's Pacific Grassroots communities. Department of History & Art History, University of Otago, Tuitū Otago Settlers Museum, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Research Presentation].

2017

Chapter in Book - Other

Schaaf, R. M. (2017). The Pacific body and racism. In H. Randell-Moon (Ed.), Incarceration, migration and indigenous sovereignty: Thoughts on existence and resistance in racist times. (pp. 44-50). Dunedin, New Zealand: Department of Media, Film and Communication, University of Otago.

Journal - Research Article

Brown, C., Lao, C., Lawrenson, R., Tin Tin, S., Schaaf, M., Kidd, J., … Elwood, M. (2017). Characteristics of and differences between Pasifika women and New Zealand European women diagnosed with breast cancer in New Zealand. New Zealand Medical Journal, 130(1467), 50-61. Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

Conference Contribution - Edited volume of conference proceedings

Finigan, A., Taumoepeau, M., Richards, R., & Schaaf, M. (Eds.). (2017). Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices XIV. Dunedin, New Zealand: Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. 49p.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Schaaf, M. (2017, November-December). Destination Dunedin: Pacific memories in the sands of time. Verbal presentation at the Oceanic Memory: Islands, Ecologies, Peoples, Christchurch, New Zealand.

2016

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Schaaf, M. (2016, February). The legacy of P.A.C.I.F.I.C.A Inc.: Rendering the prominence of Pacific female leadership in Dunedin. Verbal presentation at the Making Women Visible Conference: A Conference in Honour of Barbara Brookes, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2014

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Schaaf, R. M. (2014). A place to stand and belong. Proceedings of the Combined Association of Social Anthropologists of Aotearoa New Zealand and Australian Anthropological Society (ASAANZ/AAS) Conference: Cosmopolitan Anthropologies. (pp. 52-53). Retrieved from http://www.otago.ac.nz/anthropology/conf/publications.html

2011

Chapter in Book - Research

Schaaf, M. (2011). Navigating the competing worlds and lived realities of a PhD candidate. In M. Waring & K. Kearins (Eds.), Thesis survivor stories. (pp. 203-211). Auckland, New Zealand: AUT Media.

Awarded Doctoral Degree

Schaaf, R. M. J. (2011). Pacific participation in Aotearoa/Niu Sila netball: Body image, family, church, culture, education and physical education (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2010

Other Research Output

Schaaf, M. (2010, October). Navigating the competing worlds and lived realities of a PhD candidate. University of Otago Te Tumu, School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies Seminar, Dunedin, New Zealand. [Department Seminar].

2009

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Schaaf, M. (2009). Experiences of postgraduate supervision: A supervisee's perspective. In C. Matthewson & M. Taumoepeau (Eds.), Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices VI. (pp. 43). Dunedin, New Zealand: Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. [Abstract]

2006

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Schaaf, R. M. (2006). Notions of the Pacific Island female body and the impact on Pacific participation in the sport of Netball. In C. Matthewson & M. Taumoepeau (Eds.), Proceedings of the Pacific Postgraduate Symposium: Pacific Voices III. (pp. 39). Dunedin, New Zealand: Pacific Islands Centre, University of Otago. [Abstract]

2005

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Schaaf, R. M. (2005, November). Pacific Island women, body image and sport. Verbal presentation at the 7th World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Education Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand.

2004

Chapter in Book - Research

Saisoa'a, M. (2004). Ngā hekenga hou : Pacific peoples in Aotearoa/New Zealand. In T. M. Ka'ai, J. C. Moorfield, M. P. J. Reilly & S. Mosley (Eds.), Ki te whaiao: An introduction to Māori culture and society. (pp. 227-243). Auckland: Pearson.

1999

Awarded Masters Degree

Saisoa'a, R. M. (1999). Tama'ita'i wilson mai o moata'a: The role of Sāmoan women as facilitators of learning University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.