19/10/2026
Rongoā Māori has come a long way in the past 10 years. It’s something I envisioned, although I probably never imagined it would happen as quickly as it has.
We’re seeing Rongoā Māori embedding itself within our communities, health services and mental health practices. It’s becoming more visible, more recognised and more accessible. Rongoā Māori has also been available through ACC for the past 6–7 years.
But while Rongoā Māori is gaining recognition, it is still relatively new to mainstream spaces. With that growing awareness comes the ongoing challenge of misconceptions and a lack of understanding of what Rongoā Māori truly is. At its foundation, Rongoā is deeply rooted in taha wairua, tikanga, whakapapa and mātauranga Māori. It is a culturally grounded healing system, far beyond what can be seen or physically experienced.
I feel a responsibility not only to our people, but to the mahi and integrity of Rongoā Māori itself. Throughout my journey, I’ve faced battles and challenges in protecting, upholding and uplifting Rongoā in the spaces I’ve worked in. I’ve been part of many different environments, most of which have been welcoming and open to understanding, while others have presented resistance. I know who I am, I know the strength of my mahi, and I stand firmly in that. Adversity has never been something that would make me abandon what I believe in.
Today, after nearly three years of doing this mahi within one particular space, I was questioned about what I actually do for people — or, more specifically, what people get out of the mahi I provide.
What disappointed me wasn’t being questioned. It was the realisation that, after nearly three years in the same environment, there was still a lack of understanding of the impact and outcomes of the mahi being carried out around them.
Personally, there have been many achievements for Rongoā Māori within this space. My focus, however, has always been on the people — their healing, their journeys and the difference this mahi can make in their lives. Educating the wider workforce wasn’t something I had prioritised, nor was it the primary purpose of my role. In a large organisation, not everyone will have direct exposure to the mahi or an understanding of its impact. Perhaps this is also a reminder of the work that still needs to happen.
My hope for the future is that one day people will understand the true essence of Rongoā Māori.
And I’m not just talking about rākau rongoā, plant medicine, mirimiri or romiromi.
I’m talking about the depth of Rongoā. The wairua. The connection. The reconnection. The restoration of mauri. The healing that happens within a person, sometimes in ways that cannot be measured, easily explained or seen by others.
Rongoā Māori is not simply something we do to people. It is a way of understanding healing, of holding space, of restoring balance and of reconnecting people to themselves, their whakapapa, their wairua and the world around them.
And as this mahi continues to grow and find its place in mainstream spaces, I will continue to stand for its integrity, its depth and its rightful place.
