Nelisi, Lino
IN BRIEF
Lino Nelisi is a bilingual New Zealand children’s writer whose books celebrate New Zealand’s cultural diversity. Of Niuean Samoan heritage, Nelisi has worked as a primary teacher in Niue and Auckland, and as an adviser in Pacific Islands education for the Auckland College of Education. She has published more than 15 titles and her work is published in English, Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Niuean, Tokelauan, Cook Island Maori and Spanish. She has been shortlisted several times for the New Zealand Post Children’s Picture Book Award.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nelisi, Lino (1952 –) (Lino Ugamea Hufeilo Levi) is a bilingual New Zealand children's writer whose books celebrate New Zealand's cultural diversity.
Nelisi ethnicity is Niuean Samoan. Her Niuean father, Ugamed, was from the village of Avatele and her Samoan mother, Peko,was from Vaipuna, Western Samoa.
Nelisi has worked as a primary teacher in Niue and Auckland, and as an adviser in Pacific Islands education for the Auckland College of Education. She has completed a Masters of Education Degree specialising in Pacific nations education, and was recently appointed the Niuean language editor at Learning Media where she works on the Tupu Readers (Pacific Island languages) series.
Her work is published in English, Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Niuean, Tokelauan, Cook Island Maori and Spanish.
'About a third of children in New Zealand schools are Polynesian,' Nelisi writes. 'Books which reflect students cultures offer an understanding of those cultures.'
Nelisis titles are Aiani moe Pia aitu (1993); Koe ama uga (1994); Venise and the little red radio (1996); Siones tale (1992); Te taro O Sione (1992); Koe tale ha Sione (1993); O le talo Sione (1993) which was a finalist in the Children's Picture Book Award in 1993; Fishing with Spiderwebs (1994) which was also a finalist in the Children's Picture Book Award in 1995; Sione Went Fishing (1996); Thats the way (1998); El taro de Sione (1996); Tane steals the show (1997); Tane te whetu o te ra (1997); He ika mawhitiwhiti pungawerewere (2000).
Nelisi is currently a Teaching Fellow at Auckland University of Technology.
Ko e Pele Kilikiki was published in 2003.
writers in schools information
Nelisi is available to talk to primary school students through the Book Council's Writers in Schools progranmme. She will discuss her experiences as a bilingual writer and translator. She is prepared to travel out of town for Writers in Schools visits.
