New Zealand Writers

NELISI, Lino

Her books celebrate New Zealand's cultural diversity.

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• Writers in Schools: Lino Nelisi’s involvement

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."

Nelisi's titles are Aiani moe Pia aitu (1993); Koe ama uga (1994); Venise and the little red radio (1996); Sione's tale (1992); Te taro O Sione (1992); Koe tale ha Sione (1993); O le talo Sione (1993) which was a finalist in the Childrens' Picture Book Award in 1993; Fishing with Spiderwebs (1994)which was also a finalist in the Childrens' Picture Book Award in 1995; Sione Went Fishing (1996); That's 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).

(KC.)

Updated Information

Nelisi is currently a Teaching Fellow at Auckland University of Technology.

Ko e Pele Kilikiki was published in 2003.

Writers in Schools

Lino Nelisi is available to talk to primary school students. She will discuss her experiences as a bilingual writer and translator. She is prepared to travel out of town for Writers in Schools visits.