'A Ngāti Porou author, researcher and mother of two, Tina Ngata's work involves advocacy for environmental, indigenous and human rights. This includes local, national and international initiatives that highlight the role of settler colonialism in transnational issues such as climate change, waste pollution, and pandemics. Tina's background is in Māori public health research, incluing holistic approaches to health such as oranga taiao (environmental well being) and oranga whānau (collective wellbeing) that sit outside of conventional western models. Since 2019 Tina has been working loosely with her Matakāoa community to develop models of wellbeing and protection, founding the award-winning Manaaki Matakāoa program...a community centred, flaxroots oranga service that rallied the community to rie to the challenges of extreme isolation and limited health infrastructure. Its success lies not in any one person, but in the passion of the community to come together to care for one another, as they have for many generations.'
Biographical sources
- Ngā Kupu Wero. Ed. Witi Ihimaera. New Zealand: Penguin Books, 2023. 356.
Non-fiction
- Te Tiriti and vaccination rates. E-Tangata, 10 October 2021. Rpt. in Ngā Kupu Wero. Ed. Witi Ihimaera. New Zealand: Penguin Books, 2023. 67-72.
Non-fiction
- "Commenting on a letter by Pākehā professors denying Mātauranga Māori." Defence of Coloial Racism, Tinangata.com, 25 July 2021. Rpt. in Ngā Kupu Wero. Ed. Witi Ihimaera. New Zealand: Penguin Random House New Zealand, 2023. 189-196.