Omā Collective

Omā Collective Māmā, Nanny & Rongoā Practitioner

Sharing rongoā, simple living and healing for our whenua and whānau

After being away, it’s always nice to come home and be back in my māra🌱💚At this time of year, I especially love seeing t...
10/08/2026

After being away, it’s always nice to come home and be back in my māra🌱💚

At this time of year, I especially love seeing the new growth coming through. It always reminds me of my Nanny and the many little things she would do in her garden.

She would put epsom salts around her plants, along with eggshells and other things that were good for the garden. Growing up, I never really knew why.

Now I understand there was a reason. Epsom salts contain magnesium and sulfur, which plants can use when the soil is lacking those nutrients, while shells returned calcium and mineral-rich material back to the whenua.

Looking back, nothing seemed to go to waste. What came from the whenua often found its way back to the whenua.

It’s amazing how much we learnt simply by watching our Nannies and kaumātua. At the time we may not have understood the why but those memories stay with us 💚🌱

Tohetaka or commonly known as Dandelion 🌼Many see dandelions as a w**d, but it’s valued for its medicinal properties. It...
07/08/2026

Tohetaka or commonly known as Dandelion 🌼

Many see dandelions as a w**d, but it’s valued for its medicinal properties. It’s naturally rich in vitamins A,C and K along with minerals including potassium, calcium and iron.

There are many ways to enjoy dandelion (tohetaka).

🍃 Fresh young leaves in salads or cooked like spinach.
- Roasted roots as a naturally caffeine-free coffee alternative
Roots or leaves brewed as a tī
- Prepared as tinctures or herbal extracts
- The Flower can be infused into oils, vinegars, syrups, or enjoyed as a tī.

Supports:

🌿 Liver and Gallbladder Support
The root can be used as a liver tonic. Its naturally bitter compounds stimulate the production and flow of bile, supporting healthy digestion, particularly fats.

🌿 Kidney and Fluid Balance
The leaves can be used as a natural diuretic, helping the body eliminate excess fluid. The leaves are rich in potassium.

🌿 Digestive Support
Dandelion has long been used to support digestion and poor appetite particularly for indigestion, bloating, and constipation.

🌿 Skin Health
Dandelion has been used to support skin health. The milky white sap from the stem can be applied to warts, and can also be used to support people with eczema and acne.

As always, it’s important to seek advice from a qualified practitioner if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medications, or have underlying health conditions.

05/08/2026

💧 Wai is Life

It’s easy to forget to drink enough water during winter when it’s so cold. We often don’t feel as thirsty as we do in summer but our bodies still rely on water every single day.

60% of an adult’s body is made up of water. Our brains, muscles, blood, and organs all depend on it to function well. Water helps transport nutrients, regulate body temperature, lubricate our joints, support digestion, and remove waste.

Water is more than hydration it is life, connecting us to all living things, our whenua and whakapapa.

Today is a reminder to ask yourself:
Have I had enough water today?

Whether it’s a glass of fresh water, lemon water or a warm cup of wairākau, every sip is a way of caring for your tinana. I often enjoy lemon water, which is good for supporting digestion and giving a refreshing boost to start the day.

Growing up I wondered why there were old janola bottles and others filled with water under the old homestead. Nothing went to waste.

As the years have gone by I’ve come to realise and understand the importance of being prepared.

When the floods affected our village a few years ago, our water supply was affected and a tanker was brought in to provide clean drinking water for our community.
It’s a reminder that something we can often take for granted is one of our most precious resources💧

Kūmara Vine 🍠🍃Dried kūmara vine used as a wairākau to support overall wellbeing.• Support the reproductive health of bot...
02/08/2026

Kūmara Vine 🍠🍃

Dried kūmara vine used as a wairākau to support overall wellbeing.

• Support the reproductive health of both tāne and wāhine.
• Support healthy circulation.
• Help maintain healthy red blood cells and vitality, helping to reduce fatigue.
• Support the body's natural immune system.
For Wāhine
• Support a balanced menstrual cycle.
• Help ease menstrual discomfort.
• Support wellbeing throughout conception, pregnancy, and post-partum recovery.
Preparation
• Harvest the kūmara vine once it has naturally dried.
• Remove any damaged or mouldy pieces.
• Dry thoroughly if needed.
• Store in a cool, dry place until ready to use.

Thank you for the beautiful koha my friend Melissa🤍🤍

🌿Tarata The lemon scented taonga of our ngahere 🍋Tarata has been valued for its fragrant leaves, flowers and resin. The ...
31/07/2026

🌿Tarata

The lemon scented taonga of our ngahere 🍋

Tarata has been valued for its fragrant leaves, flowers and resin.
The resin was used in scented oils and perfume, the gum was chewed to freshen the breath.

The rau were prepared as a paste for skin irritations and added to baths to help soothe aching joints. Tarata was also combined with other native rākau to treat coughs, colds, sore throats, asthma and bronchial complaints.

Beyond its physical uses, Tarata is also associated with cleansing, renewal and balance ✨

Every rākau has its own whakapapa. Every whānau will develop their own relationship with our native rākau learning from the mātauranga that has been passed on.

I’ve started a cold infusion of fresh Tarata rau. The fresh citrus aroma is beautiful 💛

Pūhā yummy nutritious kai that we have been bought up on. One that grows wild and is accessible for most whānau🍃In rongo...
29/07/2026

Pūhā yummy nutritious kai that we have been bought up on.
One that grows wild and is accessible for most whānau🍃

In rongoā, pūhā is valued for:

* Supporting healthy digestion and bowel function.
* Naturally providing iron, along with vitamins A, C, K and folate.
* Helping support the body’s natural cleansing processes.
* Providing antioxidants that support overall wellbeing.
* Nourishing the body during times of recovery, fatigue, or after illness.

Nutritional benefits 💚

* Rich in iron, making it a nourishing kai for supporting healthy red blood cells
* High in vitamin C, which also helps the body absorb iron
* Good source of calcium, potassium, and dietary fibre.

Many of our whānau and tīpuna were very resourceful. Both my Nanny and Mama were cooks in the shearing shed and often had to make do and use what they had.
They could make yummy kai out of what they had in their cupboards and what was growing around them. Pork bones and pūhā was a staple kai growing up.
One of Nanny’s favourite was mutton bird with pūhā and also my favourite Tōroi, mussels and puha.
There’s so many ways to eat pūhā, with rising costs for whānau is another nutritious kai thats easy to source 🌿

Our beautiful bubba the latest addition to the whānau ❤️I decided to make a pēpi korowai to share amongst our whānau for...
27/07/2026

Our beautiful bubba the latest addition to the whānau ❤️

I decided to make a pēpi korowai to share amongst our whānau for special occasions.

White feathers symbolise the pure love, innocence, and blessings that our babies bring to our whānau. The tāniko represents the strength of whānau, whakapapa, and life’s journey supported with aroha guidance and wisdom 🤍🤍

24/07/2026

Yesterday afternoon, in preparation for our Rongoā wānanga, I spent time in our ngahere 🌿

It’s peaceful, grounding, and a reminder of the healing that our taiao offers.

Before we gather to learn, we take time to connect with our taiao, to observe, offer karakia, give thanks, and remember that Rongoā is more than gaining knowledge. It is about building a relationship and getting to know our native rākau. We also have a responsibility to care for our taiao to nurture it, protect it, and ensure these precious taonga continue to thrive for our mokopuna and generations to come.

Today we’ll continue that journey together, learning to identify our native rākau and the importance of caring for these precious taonga 💚

Ive had a few questions about growing kūmarahou. Although kūmarahou naturally grows mainly in the upper North Island, it...
21/07/2026

Ive had a few questions about growing kūmarahou.
Although kūmarahou naturally grows mainly in the upper North Island, it can be successfully grown further south. We experience regular heavy frosts each winter, but have found once it’s established it’s fine.
Winter changes its appearance, with no bright yellow flowers, but once established it can be far hardier than many people expect.

We have one of our kūmarahou I’m growing under partial protection on the side of our whare so it gets some shade and sun and in a raised garden with good drainage 🌿💚

Here’s a few tips below:

* Well-draining soil – This is probably the most important factor. Kūmarahou doesn’t like “wet feet” or waterlogged ground. Sandy, gravelly or free-draining clay soils are ideal.
* Full sun to partial shade – It flowers best in full sun but will tolerate some afternoon shade.
* Sheltered while young – Young plants benefit from protection from strong winds and severe frost until they become established.
* Moderate watering – Water regularly during the first year. Once established, it is reasonably drought tolerant.
* Low fertility soils – In the wild, kūmarahou often grows on poor, clay or gumland soils. It generally doesn’t need rich soil or heavy fertiliser.

Mānuka wairākau can be used for a number of purposes. 🌿 Supporting colds, coughs and congestion🌿 Helping soothe sore thr...
19/07/2026

Mānuka wairākau can be used for a number of purposes.

🌿 Supporting colds, coughs and congestion
🌿 Helping soothe sore throats
🌿 Supporting urinary tract health
🌿 A calming drink to help settle the body and encourage relaxation
🌿 Supporting digestive upsets, including mild diarrhoea
🌿 General wellbeing during times of illness
🌿 Mouth wash

From a wairua perspective mānuka wairākau can be used as a gentle way to:

✨ Cleanse and purify
🌿 Ground and reconnect
💚 Encourage resilience, inner strength and clarity
🙏🏽 Prepare for karakia, reflection or quiet time in nature

Mānuka contains naturally occurring compounds, that are used for their antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.

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