Ko Tokomaru te Waka
Ko Taranaki te Maunga
Ko Waitara te Awa
Ko Manukorihi te Marae
Ko Tanya Allport tōku ingoa
My passion as a researcher is to make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Māori through aspirational, translational and kaupapa Māori focused research.
I was educated at the University of Auckland, where I gained a Bachelor and Master of Arts, before completing my PhD in 2006. While studying I worked at the University of Auckland, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, in Māori and Pacific health. Following my PhD I undertook several years of working for claimants to the Waitangi Tribunal, specialising in Māori land research.
More recently, I worked as the director of Wai Research, an urban Māori research centre with Te Whānau O Waipareira, a West Auckland Māori health and social service provider. As part of that role, I led a staff of researchers, evaluators, and social impact specialists, and project managed local and national research programmes focusing on whānau Māori wellbeing and policy impacts.
I am Te Āti Awa ki Te Whanganui-a-Tara from my father’s side and German from my mother’s side, and although I was born in Tauranga I spent my formative years in Northern Germany, returning to Aotearoa in my early teens. I now live with my whānau in the Waitakere Ranges in Auckland.
I feel honoured and fortunate to be a senior researcher at Whakauae, as it allows me to be part of a dedicated and inspiring team that works to fulfil the aspirations of Ngāti Hauiti for all whānau Māori to have health, wealth and self-determination in line with their own values.
