Rate My Professor Ripeka Hakopa

Ripeka Hakopa is the Pacific Health Academic Administrator at Va'a o Tautai, the Centre for Pacific Health, within the Division of Health Sciences at the University of Otago in Dunedin. She supports academic initiatives in Pacific health, contributing to the centre's efforts in teaching, research, and student support under the University of Otago Pacific Strategic Framework 2022–2030. Ripeka is a descendant of Ngāti Tuwharetoa and Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa. Born in Rotorua, she was raised in Taupo and Dunedin, attending Kohanga Reo o Manaaki and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Otepoti for her early education in Dunedin. After spending three years in Auckland with her partner, she returned to Dunedin to engage with Pacific Health knowledge and support the Māori and Pacifica community.