Erena is a kaupapa Māori Postdoctoral Research Fellow currently researching Māori engagement with cannabis and methamphetamine.  Her PhD thesis titled, The Past, Present and Future of Traditional Indigenous Healing: What was, is, and will be, Rongoā Māori, focused on renormalising, revitalising and sustaining traditional Indigenous (Māori) healing practices in Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Erena is also the Director of Ivy League Ltd; a Māori health research consultancy business. With previous research roles at Te Kupenga Hauora Māori (Department of Māori Health), the University of Auckland, the University of Sydney and AUT University, Erena’s ongoing research interests include Public Health, Māori health workforce development, traditional Māori healing (rongoā), addressing ethnic inequalities in health, cultural competence, mental health and cancer in Māori and Indigenous populations.