Pasifika student wins excellence award for PhD research

11 November 2025

Salanieta Naliva won one of three Excellence Awards at the Massey Pacific Postgraduate Conference 2025 for her presentation on “Key influencers of nutrition risk in older Fijian iTaukei.”

The conference was held to celebrate the research of Massey University’s Pacific postgraduate students, with the theme “Navigating Our Futures: Wayfinding in Research, Culture and Community.” There was a total of 32 postgraduate student presenters at the two-day conference.

The Excellence Awards were sponsored by Ala Le Manuia Ltd and included a cash prize of $500. Salanieta was recognised for her outstanding presentation and contribution to Pacific research.

Salanieta’s research aims to assess the nutrition status of individuals aged 55 and above in the Central Division of Fiji, while also considering socio-economic, cultural, and environmental factors. Preliminary findings indicate a significant proportion of the population of Fiji are at risk of malnutrition, with key factors including ethnicity, living conditions, and coexisting health conditions.

Professor Palatasa (Tasa) Havea, Dean Pacific, Massey University, says, “This unique conference celebrated the diverse journeys of Pacific students in research, drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of wayfinding and oceanic navigation.

“Just as our ancestors read the stars, tides and winds to chart purposeful paths across vast oceans, this gathering honoured the intellectual, cultural and personal navigations of Pacific scholars.

“With talanoa, creative expression and storytelling woven throughout, this is more than an academic conference – it was a vaka for building connections, strengthening confidence, and charting collective futures.”

The conference was opened by Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith. Riddet Institute staff member Meka Faamanu Mapuilesua and PhD student Annelise Halafihi attended the conference in support of the presenters.