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To tatou korero | OUR story

We are proud to be wahine Māori-owned and operated business, which is based on the identity of our Kaiwhakahaere Kandace whose whakapapa is to Ngati Paoa in Hauraki, Te Aitanga a Mahaki in Gisborne and Te Ati Awa in Taranaki. Kandace’s grandmother was an iwi negotiator who dedicated her life to working tirelessly for the betterment of her people, and Kandace is inspired to honour this inspiring legacy by advocating for an aspect of Maori culture that has such an impact on Maori wellbeing. Her moemoea (dream) is for all to experience the benefits of Rongoā and for all cultures to embrace the uniqueness of what Aotearoa has to offer.

Hauora | Health and Wellbeing

Support for wahine is a key element of our identity at Whakapakari Ora Wāhine Wellness. Our name represents a holistic approach to health, encompassing tinana (physica), hinengaro (emotional, mental), and wairua (spiritual aspects) specific to wahine (women); it speaks to the growth, strength, and vitality that women can achieve through the services and products that we offer.

Whakapakari | Strength | Empowerment

Whakapakari Ora Wāhine Wellness was established 2023 by Kandace Smiler in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. She had been working as a health coach in premium health centres, gyms and online for almost a decade, but felt that she wanted to do more and had more to offer whānau to support their health.

She recognised the limitations of the common medical interventions within the health system, which focused more on suppressing symptoms of poor health rather than addressing the causes of poor health. She also saw how the medical system was not working for Māori, who are over-represented in most statistics related to preventable diseases.

These insights inspired Kandace to shift the focus of her efforts to support the health of whānau towards rongoa: the system of traditional Māori healing and medicine. She immersed herself in rongoa at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, studying under recognised tohunga (expert practitioners) Billy Carruthers Tuhua and Melani Burchett, and obtained her certificate in tikanga Māori with specialisation in rongoa, and then a diploma in rongoa.

He aha ta tatou take?

What is our why?

Our mission is to inspire and empower individuals to achieve optimal health and vitality by aligning with the wisdom of rongoā and their own innate potential.

We want to help tangata achieve self determination through education through matauranga Māori and tikanga like our Kuia and Koro used to, that should have been passed down to us. We want to increase awareness of Rongoā and its benefits to tangata and to te taiao.

We are dedicated to supporting clients on their unique paths to well-being, fostering balance, harmony, and a renewed sense of purpose in their lives.