Who we are

I am an experienced academic leader in higher education, with a focus on Biblical Studies, postcolonial hermeneutics, and culturally responsive curriculum design. I lead initiatives that integrate academic rigour with social impact, emphasizing climate resilience, gender diversity, and community wellbeing across the Pacific. Through my research and leadership, I have secured significant funding for projects that examine the intersections of religiosity, wellbeing, and inclusivity within religious spaces. My roles with international theological organizations and contributions to academic literature reflect my commitment to fostering educational innovation, cultural integrity, and transformative advocacy.

After working as an assistant tutor for three years he went for further studies in Suva, Fiji, where he earned a Master of Theology (MTh) from the Pacific Theological College (PTC), and a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and Master of Arts (MA) in Development Studies from the University of the South Pacific. In 2004 he moved to Auckland to pursue doctoral studies (PhD) at the University of Auckand, which he successfully completed in June 2008. On the 1st July 2008, Trinity College employed him, and since then he has been serving as the Ranston Lecturer in Biblical Studies, and also as an Honorary Academic at the School of Theology, University of Auckland teaching biblical hebrew and hebrew bible papers. Nasili stepped into the role of Principal at the beginning of 2015.

He was the Regional Editor for SBL's International Voices in Biblical Studies (IVBS) series, and a member of Colloquium's Editorial Board. He is also a member of the Aotearoa-NZ Association of Biblical Scholars (ANZABS), Society of Asian Biblical Scholars (SABS), Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) and co-founder of Oceania Biblical Studies Association (OBSA). He is the author of Reading Ezra 9-10 Tu'awise (SBL, 2011), co-edited Bible and Art, Perspectives from Oceania (with Carolyne Blyth, Bloomsbury, 2017), and also published several book chapters and peer-reviewed articles. 

Publications

Vaka‘uta, N. “Kalanga: (sh)Outing Bodily Abuse in the Bible, Society, and Churches.” Pp. 162–172 in Jione Havea (ed), Bordered Bodies, Bothered Voices: Native and Migrant Theologies. Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2022.

Vaka‘uta, N. “Theology” (co-authored with Darrell Jackson) in Ken R. Ross et al (eds.), Christianity in Oceania, Edinburgh Companions to Global Christianity, Volume 5. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2021.

Vaka‘uta, N. “Delusions of Empire: On Land and People in Oceania” in Jione Havea (ed.), People and Land. London: Lexington, 2020:113-123.

Vaka‘uta, N. “Art as Method: Visualizing Interpretation through Tongan Ngatu” in Carolyne Blyth and Nāsili Vaka’uta (eds.), The Bible and Art, Perspectives from Oceania. London: Bloomsbury, 2017: 97-116.

Vaka‘uta, N. “Voices of the Whenua: Engaging 1 Kings 21 through a Māori Lens” in R Sugirtharajah (ed.), Voices from the Margin: Interpreting the Bible in the Third World, 25th Anniversary Edition, New York: Orbis, 2016, 233-246.

Vaka‘uta, N. “Island-Marking Texts: Engaging the Bible in Oceania” in Jione Havea et al (eds), Islands, Islanders, and the Bible: Ruminations. Semeia Studies 77. Atlanta: SBL, 2015: 57-64.

Vaka‘uta, N. “Border Crossing, Body Whoring: Rereading Rahab of Jericho with Native Women,” in Elaine Wainwright et al (eds). Bible, Borders, Belongings: Engaging readings from Oceania. Semeia Studies. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2014:143-155.

Vaka’uta, N. “Lau Faka-Tu’a: Reading the Bible Tu’a-wise” in Elaine Wainwright, Diego Irarr.zaval, Dennis Gira (eds), Oceania and Indigenous Theologies. Concilium: International Journal for Theology 2010/5: 45-50.

Vaka’uta, N. “Tālanga: Theorizing a Tongan Mode of Interpretation.” AlterNative 5:1 (2009): 26-39.

Vaka’uta, N. “Myth of (Im)purity and Peoples of the (is)lands: A Tongan Reading of Ezra 9-10.” Pacific Journal of Theology 42: (2008)13-25

Vaka’uta, N. “Fonua-e-moana: Re-[en]vis[ion]ing an Oceanic Hermeneutic.” Pacific Journal of Theology II, 38 (2007): 5-20.

Vaka’uta, N., Jione Havea and Emily Colgan (eds.). Theology as Thresholds: Invitations from Aotearoa New Zealand. Washington DC: Lexington Books, 2022.

Vaka’uta, N. and Caroline Blyth (eds.). Bible and Arts, Perspectives from Oceania. London: Bloomsbury/T & T Clark, 2017.

Vaka’uta, N. Reading Ezra 9-10 Tu’a-wise: Rethinking Biblical Interpretation in Oceania. International Voices in Biblical Studies 3. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2011.

Vaka’uta, N. (ed.). Talanoa Rhythms: Voices from Oceania. Albany: Massey University, 2011.

Vaka’uta, N. “Preface” in Rountree, T. et al. Kōrero Mai: Toitū Te Tiriti. Auckland: Trinity Theological College, 2024.

Vaka’uta, N. "Lotu-noa: Impact of Delusional Religiosity on Well-being" in Jione Havea, Pacific Wellbeing: (is)Lands, Theologies, Worldviews. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2024:73-92.

Vaka’uta, N. “Psalm 137: A Kau’italanoa Reading” in Brenner-Idan, Athalya and Gale A. Yee (eds.), Psalms: My Psalm, My Context. Texts@Contexts series. London: T & T Clark, 2024, 231-235.

Vaka’uta, N. “Introduction: A Charge to Keep” in Rountree, T. and George Zachariah (eds.), Earth, Our Parish. Auckland: Trinity College, 2023.

Vaka’uta, N. “New Directions for Moana Hermeneutics” in Upolu Vaai et al (eds.), Restoring Identities: The Contextualizing Story of Christianity in Oceania. Wipf & Stock, 2023.

Vaka’uta, N. “Margins as Thresholds.” In Havea, J., Colgan, E., Vaka’uta, N. (eds.). Theology as Thresholds: Invitations from Aotearoa New Zealand (2022)

Vaka’uta, N. “Indicting YHWH: Interpreting Numbers 25 in Oceania” in Athalya Brenner, Archie Chi Chung Lee, Gale A. Yee (eds), Leviticus-Numbers. Texts@Contexts. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2013: 179-187.

Vaka’uta, N. (2010). “Tālanga: A Tongan Mode of Interpretation” in Jione Havea (ed), Talanoa Ripples: Across Borders, Cultures, Disciplines (Albany: Pasifika@Massey, 149-165.

Refereed conference proceedings

Vaka’uta, N (2025). "Rereading the Bible in/under Stolen (Is)Lands: from Oceania to Palestine," Northey Lecture, Pilgrim Theological College, Melbourne (forthcoming)

Vaka’uta, N. (2024). “Lotu-noa: Delusional Religiosity and Religious Subversions.” Talanoa Oceania 2024, Uniting Theological College, Sydney (4-6 April 2024).

Vaka’uta, N. (2022). “Niu Directions for Moana Hermeneutics.” Inaugural address, Havea Lecture series, United Theological College/Charles Sturt University.

Vaka’uta, N. (2019). “Ako Pasifika: Some Thoughts on Pacific Pedagogies,” Islands, Islanders and the Bible Unit, Society of Biblical Literature, Annual Meeting, San Diego, California.

Vaka’uta, N. (2018). “Visioning Transformative Theological Education: Dreamings from the ‘Sea of Islands.’” Keynote Address, Theological Education Consultation, East Asia & Pacific Regions, Council for World Mission, Nadi, Fiji, 23 October.

Vaka’uta, N. (2018). “#MeToo: Troubling Sexual Abuse in Scriptures.” Keynote Address, NZIPR Conference on Church Responses to Gender-Based Violence in Samoa, Fale Pasifika, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, 11 June.

Vaka’uta, N. (2018). “#MeToo: Troubling Textual Abuse in Scriptures.” Global Forum on Discernment and Radical Engagement (DARE), Mexico City, Mexico, 23-26 May.

Vaka’uta, N. (2017). “Delusions of Empire: On People and Land in Oceania.” Global Forum on Discernment and Radical Engagement (DARE), Bangkok, Thailand, 30 May – 2 June.

Vaka’uta, N. (2017). “Fale-‘o-Kainga: Building Life-affirming Communities in Oceania.” Keynote Address, Members Mission Forum of the Pacific Region, Council for World Mission, Suva, Fiji, 3-5 May.

Vaka’uta, N. (2017). “Border, Body, Belonging: Musings about Refugees and Pluralism from Oceania.” Study of US Institutes Conference, Berlin, Germany, 5-8 Jan.

Vaka’uta, N. (2016). “Which margins?” A panellist response to R. S. Sugirtharajah’s 25th Anniversary Edition of Voices from the Margins, Asian and Asian-American section, SBL, San Antonio, TX, 19 November.

Vaka’uta, N. (2016). “Fakamānavahake: Re-framing Healing in Oceania.” Keynote address, CWM 2016 Pre-Assembly Orientation, Pacific Region, Lautoka, Fiji.

Vaka’uta, N. (2015). “Voices of the Whenua: Reading 1 Kings 21 through a Maori Lens.” OBSA 2015, Piula Theological College, Samoa.

Vaka’uta, N. (2014). “Que[e]rying God: Engaging Sacred Texts in Pluralistic Contexts.” International Symposia on Religious Pluralism and Public Presence in Global Perspectives, SUSI Program for Scholars, University of California, Santa Barbara, Jun 21-Aug 3.

Vaka’uta, N. (2012). “Kau’i-talanoa: Interruptive Reading/Reading Interruptions.” OBSA 2012, USP Campus, Tonga.

Vaka’uta, N. (2011). “Indicting YHWH: Rereading Num 25 in Oceania.” SBL Section on Contextual Biblical Interpretation. SBL Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 19-24 November.

Vaka’uta, N. (2011). “Empty(ing) Islands: Colonial Migration and Imperial Echoes in Deuteronomy 7.” SBL Consultation on “Islands, Islanders, Bible.” SBL Annual Meeting, San Francisco, 19-24 November.

Vaka’uta, N. (2011). “Engaging the Bible in Oceania.” OBSA Conference, Malua Theological College, Samoa, 1-3 July.

Vaka’uta, N. (2010). “Fale-‘o-Kāinga: Rethinking Biblical Interpretation Eco-wise.” Plenary Paper, Society of Asian Biblical Studies Biennial Conference, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 14-16 June.

Vaka’uta, N. (2009). “(Is)land-marking texts: reading the Bible out of Oceania.” Islands Under The Bible Unit, Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. November 21-24.

Vaka’uta, N. (2009). “Fooling Ezra: A Polynesian Reading of Ezra 10:2-4.” Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah Unit, Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. November 21-24.

Vaka’uta, N. (2008). “Tālanga: theorizing a Tongan mode of interpretation.” Talanoa Oceania Conference, Sydney, Australia, 29 Sept – 1 Oct.

Vaka’uta, N. (2008). “Myth of (im)purity and Peoples of the (is)lands: A Tongan Reading of Ezra 9-10.” SBL International Conference, University of Auckland, 6-11 July.

Vaka’uta, N. (2006). “Fonua-e-moana: Re-envisioning an Oceanic Hermeneutics.” SBL Annual Conference, Washington DC, USA, 18-21 November

Vaka’uta, N. (2005). “Reading Beyond the Reefs: A Sketch of an Oceanic Hermeneutics.” ANZABS Annual Conference, University of Otago, 14-15 November.

Book Reviews

Psychoanalytic Mediation between Marxist and Postcolonial Readings of the Bible, edited by Tatsiong Benny Liew and Erin Runions. Semeia Studies 84. Atlanta: SBL, 2016. Review of Biblical Literature 02/19.

Talanoa: Building a Pasifika Research Culture, edited by Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop and Eve Coxon. Auckland: Dunmore Publishing, 2014. ISBN 978-1-927212-14-1; 224 pages. Paper, NZ$39.99. The Contemporary Pacific (2016)

Troubling Women and Land: Reading Biblical Texts in Aotearoa New Zealand by Judith E. McKinlay, Review of Biblical Literature [http://www.bookreviews.org] (2016).

Voices from Margin: Interpreting the Bible in the Third World, 25th Anniversary Edition, edited by R. S. Sugirtharajah. New York: Orbis, 2016. Review of Biblical Literature 10/2017.

The Holy Seed Has Been Defiled: The Interethnic Marriage Dilemma in Ezra 9–10 by Willa M. Johnson, Review of Biblical Literature [http://www.bookreviews.org] (2015).

The Gospel and the Land of Promise: Christian Approaches to the Land of the Bible. Edited by Philip Church, Peter Walker, Tim Bulkeley, and Tim Meadowcroft (Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick, 2011), xiv +188. Colloquium

Genesis. Edited by Athalya Brenner, Archie Chi Chung Lee, and Gale A. Yee. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2010. Pp. xvi + 344. Biblical Interpretation.

Emily is a bit of a Bible nerd who is utterly passionate about biblical interpretation in
contemporary contexts.

After completing a conjoint degree in Arts (Māori Studies) and Theology (Biblical Studies), Emily pursued postgraduate qualifications in Biblical Studies (Hebrew Bible). She earned her PhD in Theology in 2015. Emily worked as a tutor and a lecturer at the University of Auckland throughout her doctoral study. After submitting her PhD, Emily worked as an
adjunct lecturer for St John’s Theological College (in Tai Rawhiti) and the Pacific
Theological College (in Suva, Fiji). Emily began working at Trinity College in November 2015.

Emily’s research focuses on the relationship between the Bible and contemporary social imaginaries, asking about the ways in which biblical texts interact with communities in the present.
She is particularly interested in ecological representations within the Bible and what it means to read Scripture in the context of climate change. Emily is currently working on an ecological commentary of the Book of Jeremiah for the Earth Bible Commentary series (Bloomsbury). She has also written chapters on the Bible and ecological thinking in The Oxford Handbook on Bible and Ecology (Oxford University Press, forthcoming), The Bible
and Art: Perspectives from Oceania (Bloomsbury, 2017), The Nature of Things:
Rediscovering the Spiritual in God’s Creation (Wipf and Stock, 2016), and Sexuality, Ideology and the Bible: Antipodean Engagements (Sheffield Phoenix, 2015).

Emily is also very interested in biblical depictions of gender and violence. Her most recent publication is a multi-volume work, which she co-edited with Caroline Blyth and Katie Edwards entitled Rape Culture, Gender Violence, and Religion (Palgrave, 2018).

More than anything, Emily loves being in the classroom, working alongside students to make sense of biblical texts. She loves the depth of engagement that happens as we wrestle critically with the rich complexities of these ancient documents and attempt to understand them in our
contemporary contexts.

Emily is passionate about justice. And compassion. I am passionate about Trinity College as a community that seeks to tangibly live Christ-like justice and compassion in our world today.

 

Recent Publication:

Colgan, Emily. “Re-Viewing the Book of Jeremiah: An Ecological Perspective.” In The Oxford Handbook of Bible and Ecology. Edited by Mark Harris and Hilary Marlow. Oxford: Oxford University Press, forthcoming.

Colgan, Emily. “Let Him Romance You: Rape Culture and Gender Violence in Evangelical Christian Self-Help Literature.” In Rape Culture, Gender Violence, and Religion: Christian Perspectives. Edited by Caroline Blyth, Emily Colgan, and Katie Edwards. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.

Colgan, Emily, and Caroline Blyth. “Tough Conversations: Teaching Biblical Gender Violence in Aotearoa New Zealand.” In Rape Culture, Gender Violence, and Religion: Interdisciplinary Perspectives, Edited by Caroline Blyth, Emily Colgan, and Katie Edwards, 201-207. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.

Colgan, Emily. “Reinscribing Rape: Tracing Connections Between the Experience of Women and Land in Biblical and Contemporary Texts.” In Rape Culture, Gender Violence, and Religion: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Edited by Caroline Blyth, Emily Colgan, and Katie Edwards. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.

Blyth, Caroline, Emily Colgan, and Katie Edwards eds. Rape Culture, Gender Violence, and Religion: Biblical Perspectives. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.

Blyth, Caroline, Emily Colgan, and Katie Edwards eds. Rape Culture, Gender Violence, and Religion: Christian Perspectives. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.

Blyth, Caroline, Emily Colgan, and Katie Edwards eds. Rape Culture, Gender Violence, and Religion: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.

Colgan, Emily. “Analogies with Anathoth: Reading Land, Reading Jeremiah in the Paintings of Michael Shepherd.” In The Bible and Art, Perspectives from Oceania. Edited by Caroline Blyth and Nasili Vaka’uta. London: Bloomsbury, 2017.

Colgan, Emily. “Who Stirs Up the Sea so that Its Waves Roar?: The Interconnectedness of All Reality in Jer 31:35-37.” In The Nature of Things: Rediscovering the Spiritual in God's Creation. Edited by Norman Habel and Graham Buxton. Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2016.

Colgan, Emily. “‘Come Upon Her’: Land as Raped in Jer 6:1-8.” In Sexuality, Ideology and the Bible: Antipodean Engagements. Edited by Robert J. Myles and Caroline Blyth. Sheffield: Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2015.