Paris Pidduck has recently joined the School of Psychology as our new Kaiāwhina Tauira.

Ko Te Atiawa ki Whakarongotai te iwi

Ko Maniapoto te hapū

Ko Whakarongotai te marae

No Ōtaki ahau

Ko Paris Pidduck toku ingoa

Paris has always found great satisfaction in helping people, and has a particular love of tamariki (children) and rangatahi (youth). This is what inspired her to study psychology and education at the University of Otago. She now has a Diploma in Clinical Psychology, and is completing her MSc thesis on Māori children’s perspectives about Hauora (well-being).

It took a while for Paris to get used to living far away from her family in Ōtaki, and there were often long phone calls, and occasional trips back home to take part in her favourite sport, canoe polo. However, she now loves Dunedin and is grateful for all the people she met while studying there. Many of these people have become life-long friends and colleagues. She also loves that psychology taught her to be a critical thinker, and continues to fill her desire to learn.

Paris has a real passion for working with Māori and Pasifika people, and helping them reach their potential and occupy their place in the mainstream. As Kaiāwhina, she is the first point of contact for Māori and Pasifika students, and can assist them by answering their questions, and providing a safe, non-judgemental environmental where they can talk about any challenges and aspirations.

Paris strongly encourages any Māori and Pasifika people with an interest in psychology to give it a go, and “remember to make connections, your peers are often where you will find your greatest support”.

Contact: Amanda Holdaway

Phone: (04) 463 6924

Email: