Ngāpuhi Designer Jordan Tane Named Y25 Leader and Dual Best Design Awards Finalist

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. As reported by Te Ao Māori News, this year’s list features seven wāhine Māori—the highest representation in the initiative’s history. Simultaneously, the 24-year-old artist and PhD student at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) has been announced as a finalist in two categories at the New Zealand Best Design Awards: Social Good Student and Academic Social Good. Tane is being celebrated for her research into takiwātanga and visual communication that redefines perceptions of neurodiversity. Tane, who lives with takiwātanga (autism), describes her lived experience as a "superpower" that drives her creative vision. She was non-verbal until the age of five and faced significant speech challenges until the age of 12, crediting her creative practice with providing a voice when verbal communication was a significant barrier. Tane noted to Natasha Hill that finding art not only saved her 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, 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 and tamariki uplifts. As reported by Whakaata Māori and Te Ao Māori News, Tane aimed to humanise that data, providing clear information that she and her research 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, ensuring that technology does not replicate cultural toi without understanding the specific mātauranga and relationships behind it.