15/03/2026
Today's Tipu - Tātaramoa
Tātaramoa refers to Rubus species, cissoides, australis, schmideliodes, parvus, squarrosus
Most tātaramoa has a barbed spine or edges on the leaves that help it climb the canopy of the forest. But there is also a leafless tātaramoa and a non barbed version.
Most species produce white flowers between Sep-Nov.
Traditionally Tātaramoa was not used for sleep and relaxation as it is now used today. It was traditionally harvested for the whare tangata and sickness. As well as snaring birds like moa.
Tauranga Moana hapū kōrero is that Tātaramoa is used for moemoeā (travelling in dream state) fevers and issues in the whare tangata. It is NOT to be used while pregnant as can induce miscarriage or early labour.
Traditionally leaves would be boiled for sickness, wahine would drink the leaves for whare tangata complaints, leaves were chewed raw for stomach complaints and the bark was boiled and ingested to help the body purge.
Research has now proven Tātaramoa aids with the central nervous system to help with sleep and anxiety.
The use of Tātaramoa may vary across region but this is what we were taught. Some areas don't use Tātaramoa at all
Tātaramoa helps us reset our tinana and balance our wairua.
Tātaramoa is good for :
🔶 Sore throats, chest congestions.
🔶 Laxative.
🔶 Chronic skin conditions.
🔶 Antiviral.
🔶 Antimicrobial.
🔶 Antifungal properties.
🔶 Used for night sweats, Menopausal/Perimenopausal symptoms
🔶 Dysmenorrhea
🔶 Stomach aches
🔶 Used to purge whenua (placenta) after birth. Also used as purgatory for non physical complaints
👇🏽
📝 Tikanga we use for harvesting :
• Never cut shrubs or trees unless it is tūturu to do so. You are potentially ending the lifecycle of that branch and bringing disease to that plant. Ask haukainga to show you what their tikanga is.
We were taught to pinch the top of the leaf (bare handed, gloves can damage the plant) then pull the leaf backwards, from the way it is growing. It should easily come off, painlessly and also not get snagged on anything when doing it this way.
• Salvage what's underneath instead, rather then taking directly from a plant. During storms often branches will fall down with vines on it.
• Take time to build a relationship with a plant, health is not just in the plant, but in your own use and self-healing belief.
• Karakia, Waiata set your intention
• Take only what you need, lots of reserves are the last remnants of native forest remains and are only just surviving.
• Ask permission from Haukainga, why? Because areas could potentially be Urupa, waahi tapū or other sites of significance.
Most haukainga are more then willing to talk to you about their whenua, pūrakau about the land and the taonga species growing on it.
📍Kaua kore e haere ki te ngahere..
🔸 Kei te Pō
🔸 Kei te ua (Ka pupuri tonu ngā rau I te wai)
🔸 Kei te Makariri (He uaua ngā rau ki te whakamahi)
🔸 Kei te Kai me Kaipaipa
🔸 Kaua ngā wāhine e haere ki te ngahere e te mate wāhine ana, He tapū te wāhine e tēnei wā.
📍When we don't harvest :
🔸At night (it is dangerous, you cannot see and our bodies melatonin has set in).
🔸When it is raining, the plants are getting their main source of hydration.
🔸When it is cold, the leaves and plants are vulnerable to deterioration and harder to harvest.
🔸When smoking ci******es or eating you're likely to contaminate the plant and the end product.
🔸When wahine are menstruating or hapū (unless she wishes) Women are generally more fatigue during this time.
🫰🏽 Long tikanga list whānau, but if we can at least make sure we aren't being careless with plants, then that's probably the most important tikanga of all aye!!
Mauri aroha, Ali 💜
