Rate My Professor Deborah Waerea

Deborah Waerea serves as Kaiwhakaako | Teaching Fellow at the Kōhatu Centre for Hauora Māori at the University of Otago in Dunedin. Affiliated with the iwi of Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Porou, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, endorsed in Health Promotion. These qualifications from the University of Otago form the basis of her expertise in health promotion and physical education, aligning with the centre's focus on Hauora Māori.

Waerea recently joined the Kōhatu staff following five years of employment at the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). The Kōhatu Centre for Hauora Māori is committed to teaching and research excellence in Māori health, delivering content across Health Sciences, Medicine, and Dentistry programmes at the University of Otago. Grounded in ako, Māori values, and mātauranga Māori, the centre works to improve Māori health outcomes and tackle inequities in health and education systems, consistent with Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It supports the development of the Māori health workforce and provides research opportunities for students, including summer studentships, PhD, and post-doctoral positions. The centre's Raukaha team offers tailored programmes for Māori tauira and students from decile 1–3 schools to facilitate their success in health professions. As a teaching fellow, Waerea is integral to these efforts at the centre located at 71 Frederick Street, Dunedin 9016.