In 2021, Tankersley was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to prisoners' welfare and Māori.

[2] Tankersley was chair of the Te Rūnaka ki Ōtautahi o Kāi Tahu Trust.

[2] In 2021 she was appointed to the senior management of the Christchurch Women's Prison as Pou Tikanga of the Mana Wāhine Māori Pathway programme.

[5] When the Christchurch earthquake occurred on 22 February 2011, Tankersley was leading a cultural awareness workshop on the fifth floor of the CTV Building.

[6] In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Tankersley was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to prisoners' welfare and Māori.