Distinguished Professor Jacinta Ruru MNZM, FRSNZ
Raukawa, Ngāti Ranginui
Te Pou Koko, Māori | Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori
Īmera dvc.maori@otago.ac.nz
Professor Ruru leads Te Tari o te Pou Koko Māori in providing strategic advice on giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in academic and research domains.
Distinguished Professor Jacinta Ruru profile
Kiri Miller
Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe
Taituarā Matua | Executive Assistant
Īmera dvc.maori@otago.ac.nz
Waea +64 3 556 6216
Kiri provides high-level confidential executive support and advice and is the first point of contact for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori. She manages the Deputy Vice-Chancellor's appointments, meetings, and email correspondence.
Kiri has a background in Commerce (with Management and Marketing), graduating from the University of Otago in 2001. She has experience working across many different government agencies (i.e., health, education, and tax sectors).
Pou Tiriti
Dr Megan Pōtiki
Kāi Tahu, Kati Māmoe, Waitaha, Te Ātiawa
Te Pou Tiriti
Īmera pou.tiriti@otago.ac.nz
Waea +64 21 195 1973
Dr Megan Pōtiki provides strategic leadership as Pou Tiriti, strengthening the University’s relationships with mana whenua and Māori communities across Aotearoa. As part of this senior role, Megan oversees the implementation of Te Kaha Uia Te Kaha – the Mana to Mana Agreement and supports the University’s progression toward becoming a Te Tiriti-led institution. Working as an integral member of the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor Māori and the Senior Leadership Team, she leads high level engagement, partnership development, and intergenerational opportunities for mana whenua, while embedding tikanga Māori and te reo Māori into institutional practice.
Megan hails from Ōtākou and whakapapa to Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe Waitaha and Te Ātiawa. She brings extensive experience in tertiary education as a teacher, lecturer, researcher, and leader, with a strong academic focus on te reo Māori and mātauranga Māori. She completed her PhD at Otago on the death of te reo Māori and has a particular research interest in the loss of written Māori archives within Kāi Tahu tribal regions.
Megan has also held senior leadership roles across the tertiary sector and most recently provided cultural advisory support through Aukaha Ltd, guiding tikanga and embedding Māori values across design, development and delivery. Raised at the Kaik, she maintains deep connections to mana whenua and sees her return to Otago as a full-circle opportunity to help weave tikanga , te reo and strategic leadership into the University’s foundations for generations to come.
Hata Temo
Tūhoe
Kaitohutohu Māori
Īmera hata.temo@otago.ac.nz
Waea +64 3 479 4277
Noo Ruaatoki, i tipu ake i raro iho i naa whakaakorana o naa kaumaatua, e kawe nei i te reo Maaori me oona tikana hai pou whakatuu i naa mahi katoa. Kua moohio te nuina kia Koro Hata, te kaumaatua moo te whare waanana, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. Ko te aarahi naa kaimahi, naa tauira, me naa manuhiri kia uu tonu ki naa tikana Maaori, kia noho haumaru ai naa waahi mahi i raro i te korowai o te ao Maaori. He nui naa mahi ki te whakatuu koohana reo ki Murihiku me Ōtepoti, kua roa hoki e manaaki ana i te taha wairua me te taha tikana Māori i roto i naa mahi hauora. He arona whakahirahira ki naa mahi tuupaapaku o te whare waanana kia whakawaatea ai te huarahi tika moo naa tauira i a raatou e ako ana, e rangahau ana i te tinana o te tanata. Ka whai waahi ki naa kaupapa peenei i te Waanana Puutaiao kia whakatenatena i naa tauira ki te whai i naa ara o te puutaiao me te taiao. Ka kawe tonu i naa mahi kaumaatua ki naa roopuu puta noa i te motu, otirā te ao hoki. I waho atu i eenei mahi, e naakaunui ana ki te whenua me naa taonga o te ngahere, e aro nui ana ki te hii ika, te hao tuna, me te kohi kai.
Karin Fraser
Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Hine, Te Rarawa
Executive Assistant
Īmera karin.fraser@otago.ac.nz
Waea +64 3 479 8081
Ko Karin Fraser nō Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Hine me Te Rarawa. He Kaiāwhina Matua ki te Pou Tiriti o Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. Kua neke atu i te tekau tau e kawe ana i ngā kaupapa Māori ki roto i te ao mātauranga Māori mō te whare wānanga otirā te hapori whānui. Ko te aronga matua ko te manaakitanga, ko te whakakaha i ngā hononga, me te whakatinana i te ao Māori ki roto i ngā whakahaeretanga katoa. Ka ngākau nui tonu ana ki te tautoko i ngā tauira, ngā whānau me ngā hapori kia tū rangatira ai rātou i tēnei ao. E ū ana ngā mahi ki te whakataukī, he aha te mea nui o tēnei ao he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
Contact Karin to receive a copy of the Māori Strategic Framework.
Rhonda Bryant
Kāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine
Kaiwhakahaere Mahi | Operations Manager
Īmera rhonda.bryant@otago.ac.nz
Waea +64 3 479 8738
Nō Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine me Ngāpuhi, i tipu ake ki Ōtepoti i raro iho i te korowai manaaki o Araiteuru marae. He ika-ā-whiro nō Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka me Te Whare Wānanga o Aotearoa. Whai muri mai i te whakapōtaetaka ki Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, i rere atu ki Rānana noho ai me tōhoku whānau mō te tekau mā waru tau. I te hokika mai ki Ōtepoti ki te noho tahi ki tōhoku whānau anō, i whai tūraka mahi ki konei ki te whare wānaka. I roto i kā tau ki te whare wānaka kua noho ki kā tari maha hai tautoko i kā tūmomo ahuataka katoa. I kā tau pātata nei i hono atu ki Te Tari Whakawhanake Māori hai kaiwhakahaere, hai kaiārahi hoki. I whai wāhi ki te taha o kā mana whakahaere o te whare wānaka hei pou ārahi i kā rautaki Māori o Ōtakou Whakaihu Waka kia akitu ai kā tauira Māori me kā kaimahi Māori hoki. Kua noho hai mākai Māori ki kā kaupapa whakahirahira o te whare wānaka hai whakatutuki i kā wawata kia noho mātāmua ko kā mātāpono o Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Kiritea Smith
Ngai te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui, Tainui
Pou Whirinaki
Īmera kiritea.smith@otago.ac.nz
Waea +64 3 479 8074
Nō Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Pukenga me Ngāti Koroki Kahukura. I tipu ake ki ngā rekereke o te iwi o Te Whānau a Apanui ki reira whakatō ai te tikanga Māori, te reo Māori me ngā mātauranga Māori ki roto i au. He raukura nō te kohanga reo, kura ā-iwi me te wharekura, otirā Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka hoki.
Ko te tūranga o te Pou Whirinaki he whakarewa i ngā rautaki ahurea Māori hei tautoko i ngā mana whakahaere o Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka hei whakatūtuki i ngā haepapa o Te Tiriti o Waitangi kia kōkiri ai te Māori ki ngā tihi o angitu ki ngā tōpito katoa o tēnei whare wānanga. Ka whakatō ko te mātauranga Māori, te reo, me ngā tikanga Māori ki roto i ngā punaha o te whare wānanga, hei ārahi i ngā mana whakahaere hoki. Ka whakapakari tonu i ngā hononga o te whare wānanga ki ngā mana whenua, ngā iwi, ngā hapu me ngā rōpū Māori e whaipānga ana. He kaiārahi ahurea e whakakaha ana i ngā mōhiotanga mā te mātauranga me ngā mahi auaha kia mārama ai me pāhea te whakamahi tika mō te whare wānanga nei me ōna hua maha.
Maioha Watson
Waikato, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Āti Awa, Te Arawa
Pou Tiaki
Īmera maioha.watson@otago.ac.nz
Waea +64 3 479 5451
He Pou Tiaki a Maioha i te Tari o Te Pou Koko Māori, ki reira hāpai ai i te kōkiritia o tō te Whare Wānanga aronga rautaki i tāia rā ki Pae Tata 2030 me Vision 2040; inarā hoki, ko te kōkiritia o ngā awhero o te iwi Māori me te whakapakaritia o tō te whare wānanga tapatahitanga ki Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Maioha is a Pou Tiaki in the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori, where they support the implementation of the University’s strategic direction as set out in Pae Tata 2030 and Vision 2040; in particular, the advancement of Māori aspirations and the strengthening of the University’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
E hāngai tonu ana tō Maioha tūranga ki te Aka Matua 2030 mā te whakatairanga i te angitutanga o ngā kaimahi me ngā tauira Māori, mā te whakaū i ngā tikanga Māori i roto i ngā whakahaeretanga a te whare wānanga, me te tautoko i te hautūtanga ā-ahurea puta noa i te Whare Wānanga. I tēnei horopaki, he mea ārahi ā Maioha mahi e Te Kaha Uia Te Kaha—te kawenata mana-ki-te-mana i waenga i te Whare Wānanga me te mana whenua—me te aro nui ki te tapatahitanga ā-ahurea ki te hāpai i te whakatinanatanga o ngā awhero e ārahitia ana e Te Tiriti.
Maioha’s role is closely aligned with the Māori Strategic Framework 2030 by enhancing Māori staff and student success, embedding tikanga Māori within institutional practice, and supporting cultural leadership across the University. In this context, Maioha’s work is guided by Te Kaha Uia te Kaha—the mana to mana agreement between the University and mana whenua—with a strong focus on cultural integrity that supports the realisation of Te Tiriti led aspirations.
Hei āpitihanga ki tana tūranga mahi, e whakakikī tonu ana ia i tana kete mātauranga i tana whakamomori ki te whakatutuki i te Tohu Paerua Toi (Tuhinga Roa) e mātai ana i ngā pānga o te Kōhanga Reo ki te tuakiri, ki te hauora me te hautūtanga Māori. I te tau 2025, i tohua ia hei kaiwhiwhi i tā Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka Tohu Taurā Taiohi 20RuaTekau hei whakamānawa i tana hāpai i te whanaketanga Māori me te ngākau tapatahitanga ki te hautūtanga. Ko te ao Māori te mātāpuna o ā Maioha mahi, ka mutu, e ārahitia ana e te whakapono motuhenga ki te whai wāhitanga nui o ngā whare wānanga ki te poipoi i te angitutanga anamata o te Māori.
Alongside his professional role, he continues to build his academic portfolio and is currently completing a Master of Arts (Thesis), which explores the impacts of Kōhanga Reo on identity, wellbeing, and Māori leadership. In 2025, he was named a recipient of the University of Otago 20Twenties Young Alumni Award in recognition of his contribution to Māori advancement and his values-driven approach to leadership. The Māori world is the foundation of Maioha’s work, and he is guided by a strong belief in the role universities play in nurturing thriving Māori futures.
Strategy
Janine Kapa
Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha
Director Māori Strategy
Īmera director.maoristrategy@otago.ac.nz
Janine provides strategic expertise, advice, and guidance in leading the development and facilitating the application of the University’s strategic commitment to become Te Tiriti o Waitangi led. As part of her role, she is the strategic lead for the Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi Domain of Pae Tata, the University’s Strategic Plan to 2030.
Janine has been passionately involved in Māori education for over 30 years – in the compulsory and tertiary sectors; from the classroom to the board room; locally, regionally, and nationally. With a background also in applied research, communications, project management, strategic development, and systems change, Janine co-founded Kia Māia Bicultural Communications in 1999, and has held senior Māori leadership roles with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu (2003-2005), the University of Otago (2007-2017), Otago Polytechnic (2017-2022) and Te Pūkenga (2022-2024). For Te Pūkenga, she led the integration and implementation of Te Pae Tawhiti, Te Tiriti o Waitangi Excellence Framework, and contributed to the co-creation of Aotearoa NZ’s new national vocational education network.
Claire Porima
Tainui-Waikato, Ngāti Hikairo
Kaitohu Matua Māori | Senior Strategy Adviser, Māori
Īmera claire.porima@otago.ac.nz
This role provides strategic policy advice and support to the DVCM Office. Claire’s focus is on the delivery of outcomes set out in Pae Tata Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi Domain Plan.
Claire has over 15 years’ experience at the university designing and delivering projects that meet the broader strategic directions and Te Tiriti policies of the University. She joins us after several years with SARO , and before that with OMD .
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Otago, Claire served in MFAT ’s diplomatic service here and overseas, then worked for private sector companies (international banking, and telecommunications). When living in Australia, Claire retrained and established an Executive and Bicultural Coaching practice which she continues to run while working part-time at the university. She is committed to pursuing economic and business opportunities for Māori and is involved with regional and local advisory groups. Claire also is Chair of the Board of Te Kupeka Umaka Māori ki Āraiteuru ( KUMA ), the southern Māori business network.
Kare Tipa
Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha, Ngāti Kahungunu
Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa Toitū te Reo
Īmera kare.tipa@otago.ac.nz
Kare descends from the deep south. Born in Invercargill and raised in Ōtepoti, Kare, a Mātauraka Māori practitioner, has spent over half her life teaching and practicing in Te Ao Māori. She is a board representative for Te Rūnaka o Moeraki as well as other committees that give strategic advice for Kāi Tahu research and development. Kare has a long history of teaching contributions to the Kāi Tahu language strategy Kotahi Mano Kāika and to Te Pae Karaka o Araiteuru.
For the last 4 years Kare has been lecturing for Te Tumu in the fields of language, tikaka and Kāi Tahu society papers. In the last year, Kare has supported two research panel seminars highlighting the development of total immersion practitioners in the Otago region. At whakawātea and formal opeinings it’s not unusual to spot Kare amongst the kairuruku, or out the back supporting mahi in the kāuta. Due to Kare’s career and the responsibilites to Mātauraka Māori that she holds locally, regionally and nationally, she has been granted her opportunities to work as a Kura Reo teacher, and supervising for post-graduate study. The Toitū te Reo position excites her to work alongside a team who is committed to developing innovative ways to grow and foster a deeper Māori research culture, to work and learn in Te Reo Māori.
Dr Julia Wilson
Ngāti Rangitihi (Te Arawa)
Kaitātari Matua | Senior Analyst Māori
Īmera dvcm.analyst@otago.ac.nz
Julia grew up in Te Puke, around her Te Arawa whananga, and moved down to Ōtepoti to for university. She studied molecular biology and has since worked in a variety of different roles across Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, including in the Sciences, Health Sciences and Humanities. These experiences have included training in both qualitative and quantitative data analysis, as well as interaction with a wide variety of staff to give an appreciation of the different strengths and challenges across the University.
Alishea Dench
Kaituitui Hinoka | Project Co-ordinator
Īmera alishea.dench@otago.ac.nz
Alishea is excited to have the opportunity to support the transformational change that is underway at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka. She is currently in a fixed term role with Te Tari o Te Pou Koko Māori and Transformation and Improvement, providing project planning and coordination to support the implementation of Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi Domain of Pae Tata, the University’s Strategic Plan to 2030.
Alishea is a strategic thinker, strong communicator and an efficient problem solver with extensive project planning, co-ordination and management experience across a variety of contexts. She has led projects for Te Poari a Pukekura | Pukekura co-management Trust, other NGO’s, Te Papa Atawhai | Department of Conservation and Tūhura | Otago Museum. Much of her recent mahi has seen her working alongside mana whenua and within kaupapa Māori contexts.
Academic
Associate Professor Tania Huria
Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Mutunga
Manutaki – Ako | Dean – Academic
Īmera deanako@otago.ac.nz
Tania is a nationally and internationally recognised leader in Māori health, Indigenous medical education, and equity. Tania began her academic journey as a lecturer with MIHI (Māori/Indigenous Health Innovation Department), where she co-designed two foundational frameworks, The Meihana Model and The Hui Process, alongside Professor Suzanne Pitama. The Meihana Model and Hui Process have become internationally recognised for guiding Hauora Māori clinical practice and Indigenous medical education.
Over nearly two decades, Tania has held a range of influential roles, including Associate Dean Māori, Associate Dean (Student Affairs), and as a member of the senior leadership team at the University of Otago, Christchurch. Tania’s most recent university role is as an Associate Professor with MIHI , contributing to post graduate teaching and academic leadership.
Tania is co-author of the CONSIDER Statement (Consolidated Criteria for Strengthening the Reporting of Health Research Involving Indigenous Peoples), a globally cited framework supporting ethical, transparent, and culturally appropriate research with Indigenous communities.
Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie MNZM
PhD, MSc, BPhED (Otago)
Ngāti Maniapoto me Te Arawa
Dean Rakahau
Īmera dean.rakahau@otago.ac.nz
Louise provides strategic advice to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori and leads implementation of the research priorities in the Whakamana i te Tiriti o Waitangi domain of Pae Tata.
Louise is a Professor of Anatomy whose work bridges biomedical neurophysiology on western science and mātauranga Māori to facilitate positive ageing and equitable treatments for people living with neurodegenerative disorders in Aotearoa New Zealand. Trained at the University of Otago and the National Institutes of Health in the United States, her research investigates how brain cell activity controls movements, how this changes in Parkinson’s disease, and how light-based approaches can be used to stimulate specific brain cells. Currently she is exploring lifestyle, cultural and clinical factors that may help modulate neuroinflammation and slow the progression of Parkinson’s symptoms.
Louise’s leadership in Neuroscience was recognized in 2025 when she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit. She has served in a wide range of national advisory roles, including as the first Māori Science Advisor to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and on groups for the Ministry of Health, Ministry for the Environment and Ministry of Social Development. As Director of the Ageing Well National Science Challenge, Louise championed Tiriti-led leadership and significantly expanded investment in Kaupapa Māori and Māori community-led research. She has held roles with the Health Research Council, Neurological Foundation, Brain Research New Zealand’s, the Performance Based Research Fund, and the Tertiary Research Excellence Fund.
Rachel Sizemore
Kāi Tahu
Te Poutama Māori Co-ordinator
Īmera te.potamamaori@otago.ac.nz
Rachel is the Co-ordinator for the Māori academic caucus, Te Poutama Māori. Her workdays are Mondays and Tuesdays in the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Māori.
Rachel co-ordinates and facilitates the activities and meetings of Te Poutama Māori and provides administrative support to Te Poutama Māori Executive Committee members.
Rachel has a science background and more recently has worked as the Piki Ake Connector for New Zealand Universities. She works part-time as the Māori Postgraduate Co-ordinator in the Graduate Research School, Wednesday mornings, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Dr Rachel Martin
Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha
Senior Lecturer
Īmera rachel.s.martin@otago.ac.nz
Waea +64 3 479 3031
Rachel has a fixed-term .5 role to support the development of a business case to establish a Māori curriculum unit. The remainder of her time is spent completing various education and research contracts.
She enjoys research, in particular, Māori education and engaging in te ao Māori inclusive of culturally and linguistically sustaining Te Tiriti-based frameworks for research. Rachel has extensive experience in bilingual education, Māori education, intergenerational transmission of te reo Māori, intergenerational and historical trauma, Kaupapa Māori research, and Indigenous education. She completed a PhD in 2017 which investigated how parents, who are second language learners and speakers of te reo Māori, nurture their children as Māori, in the Christchurch region.
She is a trained primary teacher and enjoys integrating Kāi Tahutaka and te reo me kā tikaka Māori in educational programmes. Rachel worked at University of Canterbury College of Education 1999–2018 and joined the Otago University Dunedin College of Education in 2019–2023. She takes pride in being appointed as the first College of Education Associate Dean Māori and has held various leadership positions in her teaching career and during her time at the Universities of Canterbury and Otago.
Administration
Katya Sharpe
Kāi Tahu
Kaiwhakarite | Administrator
Īmera katya.sharpe@otago.ac.nz
Katya provides administrative and operational support to Janine Kapa, Director Māori Strategy; Tania Huria, Dean Ako; Kare Tipa, Kaiwhakahaere Kaupapa Toitū te Reo; and the wider Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori. She is a key point of contact for the team and supports the effective day-to-day functioning of the office. She manages the DVC Māori SharePoint site and supports the coordination of Wānaka Reo and other events.
Katya has a background in language and linguistics and science communication, graduating from the University of Otago in 2016. She spent nine years at Natural History New Zealand working on the production of wildlife documentaries and brings strong project coordination, communication, and inclusive planning skills to her role.
Tariana Kiel-Bidois
Kāi Tahu
Kaiwhakahaere Tari | Administrator (Māori) Te Rōpu Māori
Īmera tariana.kiel-bidois@otago.ac.nz
E mihi ana ki tōku pā whakatipu, nāu au i poipoia i tōku ohinga, māku koe e whakatīnana i te ao tūroa.
Hailing from the Bay of Plenty, Tariana moved to Ōtepoti six years ago, originally to pursue study – a journey that, like many, was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
With career experience gained across the health and social sector, Tariana currently works as Kaiwhakahaere Tari for Te Rōpū Māori, the Māori Student Association. A passionate advocate for kaupapa Māori spaces, Tariana finds joy in connecting with others and ensuring everyone feels supported and seen.
Outside of mahi, Tariana has a deep love for waiata and kapa haka — you’ll often hear her singing, or, chatting away to those around her. Tariana is a self-proclaimed yapper who describes herself as chatty and always open for a kōrero.
Ki mai koe ki au, he aha te mea nui o tēnei ao? Māku e kī atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
He taura whiri, he hononga
We work closely with:
- Associate Deans Māori in Divisions, Faculties and Schools
- Te Huka Mātauraka: Māori Centre
- Te Poutama Māori
- Kaimahi Māori staff
- Te Rōpū Māori
- Te Tumu School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous Studies
- Māori-specific positions including Māori strategic advisers
- Māori research centres and units