Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development supports Indigenous leadership, scholarship, and tribal development. Established on the vision of Sir Robert Mahuta, it serves as a centre of excellence for Māori research and learning.
Marama holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Auckland. She is a Senior Research Fellow and Acting Director at the James Henare Māori Research Centre. Marama also advises on elderly health projects in the School of Population Health.