Rongoā Māori Consultation Process

(ACC-aligned and tikanga-based)

1. Whakatau / Opening the Space

  • Begin with whakawhanaungatanga — gentle kōrero to establish trust and connection.
  • Karakia / purea to set a safe, tapu space for healing.
  • Acknowledge the mana of the client (tūroro), their whakapapa, and the taiao that holds them.

2. Whakawhiti Kōrero / Gathering Information

  • Listen deeply without interruption.
  • Ask open questions to understand the kaupapa of their visit, such as:
  • What brings you here today?
  • How have you been feeling in your tinana, hinengaro, wairua, whānau?
  • What supports do you already have in place? (e.g. rongoā rākau, GP, other healers, whānau).
  • Explore their hauora through the four pillars (Te Whare Tapa Whā) or the biosphere model you use — but always within Māori frameworks of balance and mauri.
  • Record only what is needed for clinical safety and care.

3. Aromatawai / Assessment

  • Use observation (titiro), listening (whakarongo), touch if appropriate (whakapā), and wairua (matakite if it comes naturally).
  • Consider:
  • Tinana — physical health, injuries, pain.
  • Hinengaro — thoughts, emotions, mental wellbeing.
  • Wairua — sense of connection or disconnection, mamae or unsettledness.
  • Whānau — social supports, relationships, environment.
  • Acknowledge any diagnoses, medications, or medical advice already in place. Do not contradict or interfere — instead, seek ways Rongoā can complement safely.

4. Whakatau Kaupapa / Care Plan

  • Together with the client, agree on what healing is needed and possible today.
  • This may include:
  • Mirimiri / Romiromi — bodywork to restore balance.
  • Rongoā Rākau — tinctures, pani, teas, baths, as appropriate.
  • Karakia / Waiata — to clear, lift, or strengthen.
  • Whakawhiti Kōrero — reflective kōrero to support healing of hinengaro and mahara.
  • Be clear about what you can and cannot offer.
  • If issues are outside your role (e.g. psychiatric crisis, medical emergency), refer appropriately — this shows professionalism.

5. Mahi Rongoā / Healing Work

  • Conduct healing in a way that is tika and pono:
  • Always ask permission before touch.
  • Maintain privacy and dignity.
  • Uphold tapu and noa, ensuring the space remains safe.
  • Work with rongoā rākau respectfully, acknowledging their whakapapa and mauri.
  • Maintain simplicity — let Io and the natural processes do the work.

6. Whakakapi / Closing

  • Conclude with karakia to whakanoa and release both practitioner and client.
  • Offer grounding (e.g. water, kai, gentle kōrero) before they leave.
  • Check how the client feels before they depart.

7. Whai Ake / Follow Up

  • Provide aftercare advice where appropriate (rest, hydration, ongoing support).
  • Record the session securely (Cliniko is ideal — encrypted, ACC-ready).
  • Arrange follow-up sessions or referrals as needed.

Key Principles (ACC-aligned)

  • Tikanga first: safe, respectful, culturally grounded.
  • Stay in your lane: do not claim roles of doctors, counsellors, or psychiatrists. Rongoā complements, it doesn’t replace.
  • Whakawhanaungatanga: relationships are the foundation.
  • Karakia and purea: integral, but never coercive.
  • Supervision and reflection: maintain your own wairua and safety.
  • Mauri Ora: always aim to restore balance, dignity, and wellbeing.

Whakapakari Ora invites you to walk with us on a journey of reconnection, healing and mātauranga Māori.

Our wānanga and events are open to the public and grounded in kaupapa Māori values of manaakitanga, wairuatanga, and kaitiakitanga. These spaces are created to uplift community wellbeing, share traditional knowledge, and strengthen our connection to te taiao (the natural world).

We offer a range of experiences throughout the motu, including:

  • 🌿 Rongoā Workshops – hands-on learning in mirimiri, rongoā rākau (native plant medicine), and traditional healing practices
  • 🚶♀️ Hīkoi Series – guided nature walks exploring rākau Māori, pūrākau (storytelling), and spiritual grounding
  • 🧶 Weaving Workshops – collaborative raranga experiences delivered with our hoa mahi at Kahu Collective, weaving both fibres and community
  • 🧘♀️ Guided Meditations & Wairua Practices – calming sessions to align wairua and hinengaro, grounded in maramataka and te taiao
  • 🩺 Koha-Based Community Clinics – accessible mirimiri and holistic rongoā services offered with aroha

Our events align with the maramataka (Māori lunar calendar), creating opportunities to attune with the natural rhythms of the moon and environment.

📅 Browse Upcoming Events

Our upcoming wānanga and clinics are listed below. Click on each event for details and bookings.

👉 [Explore the Collection Above]

Spaces are limited, and koha-based clinics may book out quickly — we encourage early registration.

For pātai, group bookings, or collaborations, please contact us at info@whakapakariora.com.

 

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Choose from our three locations; New Brighton and Christchurch City. Or book for an Online Consultation.

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