Skip Content
Tara McAllister

Almost 3 months ago, Tara McAllister made the transition from mainstream academia to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, where she has taken on the role of Kairangahau Matua within the newly established Rangahau Centre, Te Manawahoukura.

Although her time at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is still in its early days, Tara has already helped the organisation reach a milestone, securing a Marsden for her research project, Vision Mātauranga - is it past its’ used-by date? “This process is one of our most competitive research funds in Aotearoa. Everyone who applies has about a 10% chance of actually getting it,” says Tara.

Securing this funding is a first for Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and a feat rarely achieved by Maori-led projects. Tara’s Fast-Start Grant of $360,000 over 3 years signifies a personal achievement and a testament to the organisation’s commitment to fostering Indigenous research.

“When I was looking at the stats, about 8.8% of the funded Marsdens in the last round were led by Māori. It’s not that much.”

Tara’s project explores the Vision Mātauranga policy and whether it is still effective in achieving its purpose of unlocking Māori innovation and potential.

Through this project, she hopes to discover if this policy has contributed to increased Māori research capability and capacity, how organisations and researchers engage with the policy, and how we can better engage with mātauranga Māori and people.

“One of the parts of my project is reimagining a research system in Aotearoa. We currently have a very defined system that doesn’t necessarily serve Māori. What if money was instead given to iwi and hapū so they could do their own Rangahau and researchers can help facilitate that process?”

After many years of being immersed in a university environment through study and mahi, Tara sees her transition to a wānanga as a natural progression.

“Working in an organisation where mātauranga Māori is central, where Māori values are deeply embedded, that’s attractive for many kairangahau. There were lots of attractions coming to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, and I’m really happy and excited to see how my research will be enabled by working here.”

When it comes to Rangahau, Tara is constantly reminded of the whakataukī, ‘mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei’ (for us and our children after us), and she believes it has the power to change the minds and thinking of people.

“There’s a lot of opportunity to be transformative in what we do through Rangahau. I’m excited to think about what we’re doing in Te Manawahoukura and how that might contribute to the betterment of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and in turn, the betterment of whānau, hapū, iwi, and society."

 

 Back to news & events

Published On: 01 May 2024

Article By: Cassia Ngaruhe



Other Articles

  • 15 October 2025

    Building a beauty brand through education and drive

    At just 21, Maata Morrell-Dzilic is building a thriving beauty brand with the support of business education from Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Discover how her passion, determination, and study in small business and project management are fuelling her entrepreneurial success.

  • 08 October 2025

    From paddling to politics: a journey for reo, rights and representation

    Bevan O’Connor’s journey from waka ama to the political stage is powered by his passion for te reo Māori and Māori rights. Discover how his studies at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and deep connection to te ao Māori are shaping his campaign for the Takitimu Māori Ward.

  • 23 September 2025

    HRC Maternal Health Inequity Report

    New research led by Dr Sarah Lockwood highlights critical gaps in maternity care during Cyclone Gabrielle, urging the Government to include midwifery and Māori leadership in emergency planning. The report calls for equity-focused reforms to protect pregnant women and whānau in climate crises.

  • 18 September 2025

    From Wānanga baby to Wānanga tauira

    Ripekka Matthews’ lifelong connection to Te Wānanga o Aotearoa began as a child and continues today through her te reo Māori studies. Discover how her journey from wānanga baby to tauira reflects whānau legacy, cultural identity, and the transformative power of education.