Rate My Professor Arihia Joseph

Arihia Joseph serves as the Kaiwhakahaere Pūtaiao (Sciences Manager) within the Division of Sciences at the University of Otago. In this capacity, she collaborates extensively with key stakeholders including the Associate Dean Māori, the Kaiārahi Pūtaiao, the Kaituitui Wānanga, the Kaiāwhina Network, academic and professional staff, as well as various support centres and services across the campus. Her primary focus is to deliver culturally responsive support services specifically designed for Māori students in the Division of Sciences, fostering an environment conducive to their academic success and overall well-being.

Arihia brings more than 19 years of dedicated service to the University of Otago, commencing in 2004 as the Kaituitui Mātauraka / Māori Academic Support Coordinator at Te Huka Mātauraka, the university's Māori Centre. During her tenure there, she coordinated both academic and mentoring programmes before concentrating her efforts on the academic programme. Her iwi affiliations are Ngāti Maniapoto and Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa, reflected in her pepeha: Ko Rangitoto ki Maniapoto te maunga. Ko Waipā te awa. Ko Waiwaia te taniwha. Ko Ngāti Maniapoto rāua ko Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa ngā iwi. Ko Ngāti Paretapoto, Ngāti Pare, rātou ko Ngai Tama-te-rangi ngā hapū. Ko Tainui rāua ko Takitimu ngā waka. Ko Te Ahoroa rāua ko Te Poho o Tama-te-rangi ngā marae. Ko Arihia Joseph tōku ingoa. With a background in information systems, she studied toward a Bachelor of Applied Information Systems at UCOL in Manawatu. Arihia's impactful work earned her national recognition through an Excellence Award in 2019 for contributions to Māori student recruitment and retention. She remains deeply passionate about working alongside staff and students to achieve enhanced outcomes for Māori in science education and support services.