Kōrero with Awhina Henry (Ngāti Porou me Te Whanau-ā-Apanui) & Ash Putt-Fallows (Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi - Ngāti Hine, Tūhoe)
Rongoā Māori is the traditional healing system of the Māori people, blending spiritual, physical, and mental well-being. It includes practices such as herbal remedies, physical therapies like mirimiri, and spiritual healing like karakia. Whānau and whenua are central to healing. Rongoā rākau involves using native plants for medicinal purposes, while wairua focuses on spiritual well-being, reflecting the holistic nature of Māori health practices.
“Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Ngāti Porou me Te Whanau-ā-Apanui ōku iwi
Ko Rahui me Kaiwaka ōku marae
Ko Awhina Henry tōku ingoa”
Awhina Henry of Awhi Ora Rongoā shares her journey with Rongoā and how it shaped her life and business. Awhina, from Tikitiki on the East Coast, grew up connected to the land; her whānau would use māra, hunting and diving for kai. She recalls spending time in the ngahere near her home,which felt like home and a safe place. When she moved to Wellington for university, she experienced a sense of loss, being far from her tūpuna, whenua, and whānau. After visiting a tohunga, she was advised to enter tā wairua—the realms of Rongoā. This led her back to the ngahere, where she felt welcomed and her journey in learning from the land, her tūpuna and ngā kaitiaki and atua of the ngahere began.
Awhina's Rongoā practice evolved over time, and she pursued formal learning at Wananga in Ōtaki. Her passion eventually led her to establish Awhi Ora Rongoā, initially as a side business while working at Community Law. As her following grew, she transitioned to running it full-time. Awhina has been practising Rongoā for over seven years and now lives in Hokowhenua with her partner and tamariki. She emphasises the continuous learning process in Rongoā, with each experience offering new insights and revelations.
Reflecting on the importance of Rongoā, Awhina explains that Māori are tangata whenua with a deep connection to the te taiao, as Māori whakapapa traces back to Papatūānuku and Tāne-mahuta. She describes the practice of Rongoā as not just using nature to heal but being one with it. "Using te taiao to heal is using our DNA," she says, underscoring why Rongoā is essential, especially for Māori.
In discussing the revitalization of Rongoā, Awhina notes that te reo Māori, tikanga, and kawa all originate from te taiao, strengthening one’s connection to it and to their whakapapa. This reconnection, in turn, fosters revitalization.
Awhina also highlighted some challenges, particularly around the expectation from some that Rongoā should be free. She mentions practical costs of her business, such as packaging, shipping, and the time involved. Additionally, she mentions systematic barriers, including the difficulty of obtaining permits for harvesting, increased surveillance in the ngahere, and racist incidents she’s faced, which have made her reluctant to attend markets. Marketing her small business also requires significant effort.
Awhina offers advice for those interested in Rongoā, beginning with the importance of connecting with the ngahere, watching how and where things grow and what different plants look like. For example, Mānuka is good for our skin and grows from the outer layer of the Earth, like the Earth's skin. Tītoki tree berries are good for the mind, and look like a brain. Use your five senses and ask te taiao to teach you. Some tikanga to keep in mind are: always asking before harvesting, karakia, giving back to the ngahere where you can, and loving Papatūānuku.
Awhina has workshops to learn about Rongoā and all related things, including tikanga around handling, whakapapa and guidance on facilitating that connection to te taiao. In terms of recommendations, she said it depends on your needs but her favourites were Tūpakihi and Tātaramoa—which she also said would be good for students as it calms the mind and helps with sleep.
If you want to explore Rongoā, Awhina’s workshops are a great starting point, and you can check out Awhi Ora Rongoā here.
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