The transformative potential of the Tīvaevae Model in educational and research practices – “Threading the Needle”

The Tīvaevae Model offers a versatile approach for researchers, particularly those of Cook Islands or Pacific descent, to address emerging needs or inquiries within a variety of research settings. In this article, we explore its adaptability and expansion, emphasising its capacity to accommodate diverse approaches without imposing rigid structures. As Cook Islands educators, early career researchers, and one of us a creator of physical tīvaevae, we will examine how the Tīvaevae Model can facilitate transformative processes in both research and practice. Our discussion includes reflection on family connections to tīvaevae, highlighting the significance of familial ties and cultural connections and intergenerational knowledge and understanding focusing on the creation of both physical and metaphorical tīvaevae, distinguishing between its tangible craft and symbolic meaning. We will discuss the versatility of tīvaevae, reflecting on the way it can challenge research paradigms and play a role as a continued cultural practice in new environments. By synthesising our insights and proposing to extend the Tīvaevae Model in a diasporic context through such cultural practices as o’ora, this article will demonstrate the transformative potential of the Tīvaevae Model in enriching research and educational practices within Pacific communities.