Rate My Professor Hiria Palmer

Hiria Palmer currently holds the position of Kaiwhakahaere Kohika Rau within the DSA Divisional Office of the University of Otago's Divisional Services & Administration. She also serves as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori. These roles position her at the heart of operational support for Māori leadership and strategic initiatives across the university. As a proud descendant of Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Rangi, and Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Palmer brings deep cultural insights to her work, enhancing the institution's engagement with Māori communities.

Palmer has a distinguished career history in promoting Māori success in sciences at the University of Otago, particularly through the Science Wānanga programme within the Division of Sciences. In 2014, she became Kaituitui Wānanga, collaborating closely with Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga to pivot the programme's aspirations from school-driven to iwi-led imperatives. Through her affiliation with Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, she identified significant science issues for various rohe and facilitated support via Science Wānanga deliveries. Previously recognized as Kaiwhakahaere Wānanga for University of Otago Science, her efforts have included organising immersive events at sites such as Ōtākou Marae and Āraiteuru Marae, in partnership with iwi rōpū, marae, and centres like the Dodd-Walls Centre. These initiatives provide rangatahi Māori with practical, hands-on science experiences, contributing to their empowerment and pathways into scientific fields.

At the milestone 50th Science Wānanga in 2024, Palmer attended as a guest with the hosting iwi and reflected on its poignant return to mana whenua. 'We wanted to find out what the significant science issues were for each rohe that we, Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, could support through the delivery of Science Wānanga,' she explained. Observing progress, she noted, 'We are moving from iwi-based partnerships to mana-to-mana agreements at hapū level. I find this most applicable as we move back to our traditional ways of living where hapū are at the forefront and thriving.' Palmer commended current Kaituitui Wānanga Mariana Te Pou: 'Mariana’s affinity and empathy with rangatahi are her greatest attributes... She is truly gifted and does a fantastic job.' Her influence underscores a lasting impact on Māori science education.