Photo caption: Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Hon. Feleti Teo OBE, during his visit to the University of Canterbury.
Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) welcomed Prime Minister Teo during his Christchurch visit on 24–25 March ahead of formal ministerial engagements elsewhere in Aotearoa New Zealand. He met with Vice-Chancellor Professor Cheryl de la Rey, Tuvaluan students and members of UC’s Pacific community, reinforcing long-standing relationships between UC and the Pacific.
A UC alumnus (LLB), Prime Minister Teo has had a distinguished career across government, diplomacy and international organisations, and was elected Prime Minister in February 2024.
The visit included a panel discussion co-hosted by UC alongside the Tuvalu Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Facilitated by UC's Professor Thomas Wilson, Director of UC Disaster Risk & Resilience, the session titled Our whenua, our waters, explored how Indigenous knowledge and science can work together to strengthen climate resilience, protect taonga and support communities facing rising seas.
He described how the ocean that once sustained Tuvalu’s livelihoods is now threatening its existence.
He highlighted the importance of combining Indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches, particularly in projects such as coastal adaptation and land elevation initiatives. Integrating traditional practices with modern science, he said, strengthens community engagement and ensures solutions are locally relevant.
Fellow panellists added broader perspectives, with Dr Ashalyna Noa reflecting on the strength of community and the importance of addressing power imbalances, Dr John Vea highlighting the role of visual arts in reaching and influencing diverse audiences, and PhD candidate Emma Sale speaking to the deep connections between people, land and identity, and how communities can prepare for climate change while maintaining agency and cultural continuity.
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