To tatou korero | OUR story

Ko Wai Mātou – Who We Are

Whakapakari Ora is a proudly wahine Māori-owned and operated pakihi (business), grounded in the healing traditions of our tīpuna (ancestors) and dedicated to nurturing the holistic well-being of our people.

Our kaupapa is led by Kaiwhakahaere Kandace Rewa Ihimaera Smiler, whose whakapapa connects her to Ngāti Paoa (Hauraki), Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki (Tūranganui-a-Kiwa/Gisborne), and Te Āti Awa (Taranaki, Te Whanaganui a Tara, Whakatū). Inspired by her kuia, a respected iwi negotiator, Kandace carries a strong intergenerational legacy of service. Her moemoeā (dream) is to see all people access the healing potential of Rongoā Māori, and to support the reclamation of mātauranga (knowledge) and tikanga (cultural practices) for future generations. Through Whakapakari Ora, she champions a space where mātauranga Māori and hauora (well-being) can be experienced, respected, and shared.

Alongside Kandace is Lisa Harding, a kairongoā (traditional Māori healing practitioner) and kairaranga (weaving artist), whose whakapapa is to Kai Tahu and Ngāti Maniapoto. Lisa brings a deep spiritual and creative presence to the kaupapa, combining the natural healing of native plants with the storytelling power of raranga (weaving). Her dream is to support wāhine in reconnecting to their own mana motuhake (self-determination) and to play a meaningful role in the wider movement of cultural reclamation. Lisa's mahi is rooted in wānanga, whanaungatanga (connection), and wairuatanga (spirituality), aligning beautifully with the vision of Whakapakari Ora.

Together, Kandace and Lisa weave their unique skills and lived experiences into every aspect of the pakihi, offering spaces of healing, learning, and cultural reconnection.

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Whakapakari | Strength | Empowerment

Ko Wai Mātou – Who We Are

Whakapakari Ora Wāhine Wellness was established in 2023 by Kandace Smiler in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. With nearly a decade of experience as a health coach in premium wellness centres, gyms, and online spaces, Kandace realised she had more to offer whānau than what conventional systems could provide.

She saw firsthand the limitations of mainstream medical interventions—often treating symptoms rather than the root causes of ill health. More critically, she witnessed how these systems continued to fail Māori, who remain overrepresented in statistics for preventable illnesses. This led her to turn inward—to te ao Māori (the Māori world)—to seek deeper, holistic ways of supporting hauora (well-being).

Kandace immersed herself in the world of rongoā Māori, studying at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa under esteemed tohunga Billy Tuhua Carruthers and Melani Burchett. She completed her Certificate in Tikanga Māori specialising in Rongoā, followed by a Diploma in Rongoā Māori. Under Matua Billy’s guidance in the sacred Io Whare Wānanga, Kandace was affirmed as a Tohunga and entrusted with the responsibility of carrying and sharing these ancient healing wisdoms.

Walking this journey alongside Kandace is Lisa Harding, a kairongoā and kairaranga whose commitment to the reclamation of Māori healing and creative practices is unwavering. Lisa holds a Certificate in Rongoā and brings additional depth to her mahi through her qualifications in massage therapy, sport, and raranga (weaving). Like Kandace, Lisa also studied under Matua Billy Tuhua Carruthers and Melani Burchett through the Io Whare Wānanga, and shares in the legacy of the teachings passed down through this sacred line.

Lisa is here for the journey—shoulder to shoulder with Kandace—grounded in the same vision of restoring balance, connection, and sovereignty to our people through mātauranga Māori. Her passion lies especially in supporting wāhine Māori to reconnect with their own mana motuhake (self-determination) through healing and creative expression.

Together, Kandace and Lisa weave their experiences, mātauranga, and spiritual practice into Whakapakari Ora. Their mahi is not just a service—it is a reclamation, a return, and a wānanga for all who seek to align with the natural rhythms of Papatūānuku, the wisdom of the ancestors, and the power of wairua-led healing.

He aha ta tatou take?

Our Mission – Tō Mātou Aronga

At Whakapakari Ora, our mission is to inspire and empower individuals to reclaim their hauora (well-being) by reconnecting with the wisdom of rongoā Māori and their own mauri (life force, inner potential).

We are committed to restoring mana motuhake (self-determination) for our people through education in mātauranga Māori and tikanga—the teachings, practices, and values that our Kuia and Koro lived by, and which were meant to be passed down through generations.

By increasing awareness and understanding of rongoā and its benefits for both tangata (people) and te taiao (the natural world), we aim to create meaningful pathways to healing—physically, mentally, spiritually, and culturally.

We honour the uniqueness of each client’s journey, supporting them to find balance, harmony, and purpose through holistic, kaupapa Māori approaches. Our mahi is about reconnection—to whenua, to whakapapa, to wairua—and the restoration of intergenerational wellbeing.