Lee-Anne Tatana
Founder & Executive Director | Registered Social Worker (SWRB)
MSW (Hons), MA (Psych), PGDip (CBT)
Whakapapa & Identity
Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Kurī, Ngāi Te Rangi
Lee-Anne’s work is a modern extension of a deep-rooted legacy of Māori leadership. As the granddaughter of Tuck Nathan (the first Chairman of Te Whānau o Waipareira), she carries a generational commitment to the empowerment of the West Auckland community. Her practice is grounded in Whanaungatanga and Tino Rangatiratanga, ensuring that indigenous safety and digital sovereignty remain at the heart of the “Digital Pā.”
The Scholar-Practitioner
Lee-Anne is a rare hybrid of frontline clinical experience and high-level academic research. She is a multi-award-winning scholar, recognized for her commitment to Māori health and social outcomes.
Prestigious Honors & Scholarships:
- Te Rau Puawai Scholar (Massey University)
- Ngāpuhi Scholar
- Ngarimu VC & 23rd (Maori) Battalion Memorial Scholar
- Master of Applied Social Work with Honors (Massey University)
- Master of Arts in Psychology (Massey University)
Mana Mokopuna: The Research Behind the Vision
In 2020, Lee-Anne completed her landmark Master’s Thesis, “Mana Mokopuna,” an interpretive phenomenological and thematic analysis of whānau experiences under state investigation. Her research revealed the profound destabilization whānau face when navigating complex systems—a core insight that informs every tool built at Staying Safe and Sane NZ.
Through this work, Lee-Anne identified the critical need for a “Digital Sanctuary”—a space where whānau can regain their sanity and sovereignty away from the gaze of intrusive metrics, even when their resources are at zero.
A Career in the Trenches
With over 15 years in the “Crisis Sector,” Lee-Anne has operated across the full spectrum of safety services. From 24/7 refuge support and Ministry of Justice facilitation to serving on the Care and Protection Resource Panel for Oranga Tamariki as well as the Police Family Harm SAM Tables, she has seen firsthand how the “Data Wall” blocks access to safety.
By combining the clinical depth of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with the systemic advocacy of Social Work, she designs digital tools that treat both the person and the environment.
The Mission: Seeking Partnerships for Digital Equity
Lee-Anne is currently architecting a new future for safety in Aotearoa—one where a lack of data never stands in the way of a life-saving connection. She is actively seeking strategic partnerships with leaders in the corporate, telecommunications, and academic sectors to fulfill a critical goal: ensuring that safety plans and clinical de-escalation tools are accessible to every New Zealander, even with a $0.00 mobile balance.
By whitelisting the Digital Pā as a sponsored-data site, partners have the opportunity to join Lee-Anne in dismantling the “Data Wall” that currently blocks our most vulnerable whānau from reaching the sanctuary they deserve.
“I believe that safety is not a luxury; it is a fundamental birthright. We are building the Digital Pā to ensure no whānau is ever cut off from the tools they need to stay safe and stay sane. We have the clinical tools and the research—now we are seeking the partners and the infrastructure to ensure no one in Aotearoa is left in the dark.”
Connect with Lee-Anne
Link: LinkedIn Profile | Link: Strategic Inquiries
Staying Safe and Sane 