Rate My Professor Claire Porima

Claire Porima, affiliated with Tainui-Waikato and Ngāti Hikairo, holds the position of Kaitohu Matua Māori and Senior Strategy Adviser, Māori within the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori office at the University of Otago. Possessing over 15 years of experience at the university, she has designed and delivered numerous projects that support the institution's broader strategic directions and Te Tiriti o Waitangi policies. Her previous roles include positions at the Student Achievement and Recruitment Office (SARO) and the Office of Māori Development (OMD), where she served as Manager, Māori Research Consultation and Senior Project Manager. During her time at OMD, she contributed to initiatives such as the '150 Tau, 150 Kupu' card project, which celebrated 150 Māori words and inspired related games, and facilitated the university's first inbound indigenous exchange programme by presenting pounamu necklaces to participants.

A University of Otago alumna with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Porima's professional journey encompasses public service, private enterprise, and coaching. She served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) diplomatic service, undertaking roles both in New Zealand and overseas. Her private sector experience spans international banking and telecommunications companies. While based in Australia, she retrained and founded her Executive and Bicultural Coaching practice, which she operates part-time concurrent with her university duties. Committed to advancing Māori economic and business opportunities, she participates in regional and local advisory groups and chairs the Board of Te Kupeka Umaka Māori ki Āraiteuru (KUMA), the Otago and Southland Māori business network. In this capacity, she collaborated closely on internships, such as the Otago Business School’s Tauira Māori intern placement. As Senior Strategy Adviser, Porima provides essential strategic policy advice and support to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori office, with a focus on delivering outcomes from the Pae Tata Whakamana i Te Tiriti o Waitangi Domain Plan. Her work also involves Māori research consultations, as evidenced by her listing in multiple university ethical approvals for theses across disciplines.