Ngāpuhi Designer Jordan Tane Celebrated for Research Excellence and Leadership

YWCA Tāmaki Makaurau has named Ngāpuhi communication designer and researcher Jordan Tane as one of its Y25 leaders for 2026, a prestigious cohort of young changemakers across Aotearoa. As reported by Te Ao Māori News, this year’s list features seven wāhine Māori—the highest representation in the initiative’s seven-year history. Simultaneously, Tane has been announced as a finalist in two categories at the New Zealand Best Design Awards: Social Good Student and Academic Social Good. The 24-year-old artist and PhD student at Auckland University of Technology is being recognized for her innovative work in Kaupapa Māori health research. Tane, who lives with takiwātanga (autism), describes her lived experience as a "superpower" that drives her creative vision. She credits drawing and art for providing her a voice when verbal communication was challenging, noting she was non-verbal until the age of 12. She told Whakaata Māori that finding art not only "saved my life" but allowed her to connect with her taha Māori and whakapapa. This personal journey now informs her academic research into cultural identity, youth mental health, and whānau violence prevention. During her master’s research at AUT, Tane worked within the Kei Roto Tō Tātou Rongoā project, a health research initiative funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand. She translated the lived experiences of whānau facing state intervention and violence into illustrated, accessible booklets. Recognizing that academic journals often exclude the communities they study, Tane created visual journey maps for navigating complex systems like protection orders. She noted that the goal was to "humanise that data," providing clear information that she and her team struggled to find online, ensuring findings reach the people who need them most rather than remaining in university archives. Looking forward, Tane is beginning her doctoral studies alongside an international initiative supported by the LEGO Foundation. Her future mahi will explore how Māori design and tākaro (play) can strengthen intergenerational connection and wellbeing. While she acknowledges the role of AI in improving research accessibility, Tane remains a vocal advocate for protecting the intellectual property of Māori artists. She emphasizes that technology must not replicate cultural toi without understanding the specific relationships and mātauranga behind it, ensuring that Māori communities remain the primary beneficiaries of their own knowledge.