What is rongoā Māori?

Rongoā (traditional Māori healing) is the care our people have practised for generations, drawn from the whenua (the land). It looks after the whole person, not just the part that hurts.

The short answer

Rongoā brings together three things:

• Rākau and ngahere (plants and forest). Leaves, bark, flowers and honey from native plants, prepared by people who know them.
• Mirimiri (massage). Hands-on care, often with oils from plants such as mānuka.
• Karakia (prayer, blessing). Words that set the intention and ask for protection and balance.

Rongoā is passed down through whānau (family). It is a living practice, not a historical one.

Why the whenua matters

Whenua means both the land and the placenta. It is the first thing that nourishes us, and Papatūānuku (Mother Earth) is the whenua that nourishes everything. In rongoā, the plants are kai (food) and care from that same source. This is why we talk about a return to nourishment.

Four sides of wellbeing

Te Whare Tapa Whā is a Māori model of health and wellbeing developed by Sir Mason Durie. It describes wellbeing as a wharenui (meeting house) with four walls: tinana (the body), hinengaro (the mind), wairua (the spirit) and whānau (family and relationships). When all four are cared for, the whare stands strong. Rongoā takes all four into account.

Te Whare Tapa Whā was developed by Sir Mason Durie. We share it with respect and with credit to him.

Plants and products from the whenua

• Mānuka. Oil, honey and hydrosol (a gentle plant water) from the mānuka tree.
• Kūmarahou. A native plant traditionally used in rongoā for respiratory health. Read the Kūmarahou guide.

How to experience rongoā

• Come and receive. Book a mirimiri or kōmiri (pressure massage) session with Whenua Healing Spa, or learn about ACC Rongoā Māori services.
• Bring it home. Our oil, mist and honey carry the same practice into daily rituals at home.
• Give it. Our koha (gift) packs are hand-packed and blessed before they leave us. 5% of profit goes back to the people and the whenua.

Frequently asked questions

Is rongoā the same as natural medicine?
Rongoā is Māori healing with its own knowledge, values and protocols. It sits within te ao Māori (the Māori world), including karakia and a relationship with the land.

Does rongoā replace seeing a doctor?
No. Rongoā sits alongside everyday medical care. Please see your GP for any health concern.

Who practises rongoā?
Practitioners learn through whānau and tohunga (experts). Our products are made and gifted by a Māori-owned East Coast business.

Where do your plants come from?
Wild and sustainably harvested from native bush on the East Coast.

Rongoā products and sessions are for wellbeing and are not a substitute for medical advice.