Aroha Community Clinic

28/08/2026

Hautū Waka is an Indigenous Māori wayfinding and navigation framework for navigating complex journeys, change, problem-solving and collective transformation. It uses the metaphor of a waka journey - preparing the waka, venturing into uncertainty, looking for signs (tohu), setting a direction and reflecting on what has been achieved.

The framework shown in this image has several stages:

Whakariterite - Preparation of the waka: Prepare yourself, your people and your kaupapa before beginning.

Te Rapunga - Venturing into the unknown: Be willing to explore and move beyond what is already known.

Te Kitenga - Seeing the signs: Recognise the tohu/signals that help guide your journey.

Te Whāinga - Sight your direction: Identify where you are trying to go and what you are aiming for.

Te Whiwhinga - Dig deeper: Research, investigate, listen and explore the kaupapa more deeply.

Te Rawenga - Celebrate and acknowledge: Reflect on what has been achieved, acknowledge the learning and the people involved.

The important idea is that the journey isn't simply a straight-line plan. Like traditional navigation, you continually observe, listen, learn, adjust your direction and respond to what is happening around you. Hautū Waka is described as a way to bring ancient Māori ways of knowing, seeing and doing into contemporary work, particularly when dealing with complexity.

27/08/2026

27/08/2026

Kūmarahou - The Traditional Soap of Our Ancestors

Kūmarahou (Pomaderris kumeraho) is a treasured native plant that has been used by Māori for generations as a natural medicine and cleansing plant. One of the unique characteristics of Kūmarahou is that when the flowers and leaves are mixed with water and gently rubbed, they create a light foam or bubbles. This is because the plant contains natural compounds called saponins, which act like soap.

Our tūpuna (ancestors) traditionally used Kūmarahou as a natural body wash and cleanser, particularly during times when commercial soaps did not exist. The flowers were often gathered when the plant was in full bloom, soaked or crushed in water, and used to wash the skin and hair. This natural cleansing action helped remove dirt while being gentle on the body.

These same soap-like properties are also the reason why Kūmarahou tonics can sometimes produce bubbles or foam when shaken. The bubbles are a natural characteristic of the plant and are a sign of the saponins present within Kūmarahou. This is not caused by added ingredients, but by the plant’s own natural compounds.

Beyond its cleansing properties, Kūmarahou has long been valued in Rongoā Māori for supporting the lungs and respiratory system, particularly during coughs, colds, chest congestion and seasonal illnesses. The plant reminds us of the deep knowledge held by our ancestors, who understood how to use the gifts of te taiao (the natural world) for both healing and everyday wellbeing.

Kūmarahou remains an important taonga today, carrying the wisdom of our tūpuna and connecting future generations to traditional Māori plant medicine practices.

22/08/2026

Appreciate your kind words mana wāhine🫶

22/08/2026

Also a huge mihi to this lovely wāhine for putting her hand up and allowing me to connect with you infront of a room full of people.

Special mention to everyone who helped pack everything up for me at the end of the workshop as well as doing the dishes, while I was writing on the certificates. I had finished writing the certificates and looked up to everything being put away - tables, chairs etc

A true sign of manaakitanga🌱

20/08/2026

Kia ora e te whānau,

Just a friendly reminder that at our Rongoā Māori Community Workshop is tomorrow from 11am at Massey Community Hub!

Rongoā Māori Practitioner Natasha will have her popular Kūmarahou & Māpou tonics available for purchase.

🌿 1 litre bottle – only $10!
Usually $25 per bottle - a special workshop price for our community.

Come along, learn, connect and take home some traditional Rongoā Māori knowledge and plant medicine.

17/08/2026

Hey everyone 💫

Here is the line up for PHA's pop up event in West Auckland at Oratia School Hall this Sunday 23rd August 🍁

Anyone who needs a pamper, treatment, mini consults about adjusting your diet to improve your health and energy levels, good food, catch up with like minded souls or a sound bath, yoga class or Tai Chi class! They would love to see you 🌱