Intelligence Report on Tanya Unkovich

Executive Summary

Tanya Marie Unkovich, a New Zealand First list MP elected in 2023, has a diverse background in finance, counseling, life coaching, and public speaking, with four published books on overcoming adversity. Her political career is marked by significant controversies, particularly her “Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill,” which critics argue discriminates against transgender individuals. She has faced accusations of transphobia, fueled by her statements and participation in events opposing transgender rights. Additionally, her association with conspiracy groups and advocacy for vaccine-injured individuals suggest alignment with misinformation, raising concerns about her public health stance. Her role in promoting Gumboot Friday has been questioned for inclusivity due to her gender-related views. This report compiles factual data, supplemented by speculative analysis and a detailed examination of public opinions and criticisms from X, as requested, emphasizing negative perspectives in line with the user’s directive to “make it against her.”

Personal Background

Tanya Unkovich was born in Dargaville, New Zealand, to Croatian immigrant parents, Smiljan Unković and Pavica Samić, who arrived in 1958. A significant childhood event was the loss of the family home to a fire at age eight, prompting a move to Auckland. She graduated from the University of Auckland in 1984 with a Bachelor of Commerce in accounting and commercial law. Her personal life includes the tragic loss of her first husband, Phil Morrow, to cancer in 2005, five months after diagnosis. She remarried Grant Anderson in 2011 and resides in Auckland. These experiences have shaped her focus on resilience and grief counseling.

Professional Career

Unkovich’s career spans finance, aviation, and personal development. Post-graduation, she worked as an auditor, then joined Air New Zealand as a flight attendant (1986–1989) and later as an internal auditor. At 28, she established her own accounting practice and consulted for MYOB software. In the 1990s, she earned a Diploma in Counselling from Manukau Institute of Technology, transitioning to life and business coaching after her husband’s death. She is a member of the International Coaching Federation, a former Tony Robbins Results Coach, and holds a New Zealand Certificate in Personal Training (Level 4).

She has authored four books, including Unplanned Journey: A Triumph in Life and Death (2008) and From Grief to Greatness: The Art of Overcoming Adversity (2022), published by Deep River Books. These works focus on resilience and grief, drawing from personal experiences. While some reviews praise her storytelling, her conservative political stances may limit their appeal to diverse audiences. Her public speaking covers overcoming adversity and addiction, with contributions to media outlets like Magic Talk Radio and Verve Magazine, and she previously hosted Hour of Power NZ.

Political Career

Unkovich joined New Zealand First, contesting the Epsom electorate in 2023 and ranking 8th on the party list. Despite securing only 573 votes in Epsom, she was elected as a list MP with the party’s 6.08% vote share. Her motivations, expressed on X, include concerns about personal safety and societal changes, possibly linked to COVID-19 restrictions. She hosts the NZ First podcast FirstHand, launched in December 2023.

Her most notable legislative action is the “Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill,” introduced in May 2024, mandating single-sex bathrooms in new public buildings with fines for misuse. New Zealand First frames it as protecting women’s safety, but critics argue it targets transgender individuals, potentially increasing harassment. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon distanced himself, calling the idea “on another planet” (1News). She has also advocated for palliative care and supported the Oversight of Oranga Tamariki System Legislation Amendment Bill.

Controversies

Unkovich’s political career is fraught with controversies, primarily centered on her views on gender identity and public health:

1. Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill (May 2024): The bill, requiring single-sex bathrooms and fining misuse, is criticized as discriminatory and unenforceable. Critics argue it could exacerbate harassment of transgender individuals, with reports of increased threats post-election. A Curia poll found 56% support for separate bathrooms but only 35% for fines, indicating mixed reception (Scoop).

2. Fake Facebook Account Incident (May 2024): A fake account impersonating Unkovich sent abusive messages to a non-binary individual, Wren, suggesting transgender people are “mentally ill.” Unkovich reported it to Netsafe, but her failure to publicly denounce the content raised suspicions of tacit agreement (RNZ News).

3. Unsilenced Conference (May 2024): Unkovich spoke at the “Unsilenced: Middle New Zealand on Ideology” conference, organized by Inflection Point, known for opposing transgender rights. Her comparison of gender dysphoria to body dysmorphia was criticized for trivializing transgender experiences (The Spinoff).

4. Health Committee Incident (June 2024): Labour MP Ingrid Leary called Unkovich a “known anti-trans activist” during a Health Committee meeting, questioning her Gumboot Friday involvement. New Zealand First lodged a complaint, leading to Leary’s apology on August 1, 2024 (NZ Herald).

5. Vaccine Skepticism: During her 2023 campaign, Unkovich was criticized for participating in a Nuremberg Trials Telegram group likening COVID-19 vaccines to war crimes. In 2024, she advocated for vaccine-injured individuals in parliament, supporting whistleblower Barry Young, raising concerns about promoting misinformation (Children’s Health Defense).

Involvement with Gumboot Friday

Unkovich is involved with Gumboot Friday, an I Am Hope Foundation initiative providing free counseling to New Zealanders under 25, supported by a $24 million government commitment in 2024. Her role, including emailing NGOs, raised concerns from the OutLine trans group, who fear her views on gender identity could affect inclusivity for transgender youth, leading to the Health Committee incident (Otago Daily Times).

Public Opinions and Criticisms from X

A comprehensive search of X posts from January 2023 to June 2025 reveals significant criticism of Unkovich, particularly regarding her transgender policies, vaccine skepticism, and mental health advocacy. Below is a detailed breakdown of the sentiments expressed by users, focusing on negative opinions as requested.

Transgender Issues and Bathroom Bill

Unkovich’s “Fair Access to Bathrooms Bill” is a focal point of criticism on X, with users labeling it as transphobic and harmful. For example, @StrayDogNZ posted on May 12, 2024: “The NZ First MP who introduced the transphobic bathroom bill is Tanya Unkovich” (StrayDogNZ), highlighting her association with conspiracy groups and the bill’s discriminatory intent. Similarly, @AntiFascistAkl on May 19, 2024, described her as a “far-right transphobic” MP pushing a transphobic agenda (AntiFascistAkl).

Another post by @StrayDogNZ on August 4, 2024, criticized Unkovich for supporting transphobic disinformation about athlete Imane Khelif, linking it to her bathroom bill: “Unkovich was behind the bill that intended to make it illegal to use a public bathroom that you are ‘not of the sex for which it is designated’” (StrayDogNZ). A May 14, 2024, post by @StrayDogNZ also accused her of calling trans and non-binary individuals “mentally ill people who need to go to the hospital for brain checks” (StrayDogNZ), though this may relate to the fake Facebook account incident, raising questions about her response to such misrepresentations.

Vaccine Skepticism and COVID-19

Unkovich’s association with conspiracy groups and vaccine skepticism has drawn significant ire. A post by @publicaddress on October 2, 2023, noted her membership in the Nuremberg Trials Telegram channel, which equates COVID-19 vaccines to Nazi war crimes (publicaddress). @benmackey on April 10, 2024, criticized her for glorifying parliament occupiers who protested vaccine mandates, stating: “She must have missed the arson, violence and campaigning for the death of politicians, health officials and journalists” (benmackey).

Her advocacy for vaccine-injured individuals, as seen in posts supporting her parliamentary speeches, is viewed by critics as legitimizing misinformation. For instance, @StrayDogNZ linked her vaccine skepticism to her association with Reality Check Radio and Voices for Freedom, groups known for promoting conspiracy theories (StrayDogNZ).

Mental Health Advocacy Concerns

Unkovich’s involvement in Gumboot Friday has been scrutinized due to her views on gender identity. On July 24, 2024, @fundypost highlighted Labour MP Ingrid Leary’s concerns, quoting: “The OutLine trans group, who are concerned that one of the Government members, Tanya Unkovich has been emailing NGOs about Gumboot Friday… and that she is a known anti-trans activist” (fundypost). This reflects fears that her political stances could undermine the program’s inclusivity for transgender youth.

General Political Criticism

Unkovich’s alignment with New Zealand First’s populist platform is criticized as divisive. @StrayDogNZ on July 12, 2024, sarcastically remarked on her focus on “transphobic bathroom bills and trying to end non-existent vaccine mandates” (StrayDogNZ), portraying her as out of touch with pressing issues. Her party’s nationalist rhetoric is seen by some as catering to fringe elements, amplifying perceptions of her as promoting harmful agendas.

Positive Sentiments

While the focus is on criticism, some X users support Unkovich, particularly for her advocacy for vaccine-injured individuals and her party’s policies. For example, @HopeRising19 on December 4, 2024, praised her for engaging with Australian Senators on the COVID inquiry and mRNA harm (HopeRising19). Similarly, @voices_nz on September 11, 2024, lauded her speech for representing “silenced, belittled or forgotten” New Zealanders (voices_nz). These posts, however, are outnumbered by critical voices.

Analysis

Unkovich’s conservative views on gender identity, evidenced by her bill and conference participation, likely stem from a lack of exposure to diverse gender identities or alignment with New Zealand First’s voter base, which leans toward traditionalist values. This disconnect raises questions about her empathy, despite her counseling background, which emphasizes understanding. Her failure to strongly denounce the fake Facebook account’s messages may suggest tacit agreement or strategic avoidance to maintain support from conservative factions, potentially damaging her credibility.

Her vaccine skepticism, including Telegram group membership and advocacy for vaccine-injured individuals, indicates susceptibility to misinformation, possibly driven by personal beliefs or party pressures. This stance risks undermining public health trust, particularly as a politician influencing policy. Her support for controversial figures like Barry Young may appeal to a niche base but could alienate moderate voters and coalition partners, as evidenced by Luxon’s dismissal of her bill.

In mental health advocacy, her involvement in Gumboot Friday is commendable but problematic. The OutLine trans group’s concerns suggest her views could exclude vulnerable populations, potentially eroding trust in the program. Her professional background in coaching may face backlash, as clients from marginalized groups might avoid her services due to her political stances. The contrast between her resilience-focused work and her divisive policies suggests cognitive dissonance or compartmentalization, limiting her effectiveness as a public servant.

Politically, Unkovich’s alignment with New Zealand First strengthens her position within the party but may hinder coalition dynamics and broader appeal. Ongoing media scrutiny and public protests, particularly from LGBTQ+ advocates, could impact her political longevity. Her books and speaking engagements risk declining relevance if her controversies overshadow her professional contributions.