Hotukura Wharehoka is a mother of four and a proud Taranaki wahine from Parihaka Papakāinga.
She is a Senior Lecturer and Kaupapa Māori scholar with expertise in whānau kōrero Māori, whānau wellbeing, mātauranga Māori, decolonial sexuality, Māori names, and Mana Wahine research.
She currently holds the Hohua Tutengaehe Research Fellowship (2021–2025), where she explores the needs and experiences of whānau supporting taiohi in navigating healthy and decolonial sexualities, genders, and intimate relationships. In 2021, she completed a Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship titled Ka tapa tōna ingoa, ko Hinenuitepō: Healing from language trauma by naming and reclaiming ourselves with te reo Māori.
Her PhD research (2017) focused on the reclamation, assertion, and resurgence of Māori personal names. As a result of this work, she was gifted a new name by her whānau in alignment with tūpuna practices, transitioning from Joeliee Seed-Pihama to Hotukura Wharehoka.
Teaching/Research Topics:
Professional Doctorate (Location – Waikato-Tainui) and Doctor of Philosophy (Location – Waikato-Tainui).
Dr Hotukura Wharehoka
Senior Lecturer
Qualifications: PhD, MA, PGDip TI, B.A (Honours)
Iwi: Taranaki, Te Atiawa, Ngāruahine