Rongoā Māori is the traditional healing system of Māori. It focuses on the oral transmission of knowledge, diversity of practice and the spiritual dimension of health. Rongoā Māori encompasses herbal remedies, physical therapies and spiritual healing.
Nā Hina is not just a calendar, but a symbol of our cultural heritage and connection to the maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar. Created with artwork from tauira (students) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa and mātauranga (knowledge) from maramataka experts, including New Zealander of the Year Rangi Matamua and myself
As we bid farewell to the shortest day and the longest night of the year, we celebrate the reawakening of Tama-nui-te-rā (the sun) and the transition towards summer.
Hue, also known as Bottle Gourds, are a popular vegetable in many cultures, including New Zealand. It is a vine that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family and produces large, round or bottle-shaped fruits that can be used for a variety of purposes. However, for the fruit to develop properly, the flowers need to be pollinated. Here I discuss how to hand pollinate hue (bottle gourd) flowers using a fine paintbrush.
The Autumn Equinox is a significant time in Māori culture, marking the transition from the warmer months to the cooler months and signaling a time of change and transition in the natural world. Here are some stories and traditions associated with the Autumn Equinox in Māori culture and suggest ways to observe and celebrate this special time.
As we head further into the autumn season, there are a number of rongoā Māori plants that are abundant and easy to harvest. In this I will explore some of these plants and their traditional uses.
This week I’ve had the privilege of working once again with tohunga for the national launch of our Matariki holiday.
We are now in Kōanga (Spring season) and the the land is beginning to get warmer. With that in mind it’s time to start germinating seeds for the growing season.
Hue in Māori culture are brought to us by the female deity ‘Hine Pu te Hue’. Hine Pū Te Hue was the daughter of Tāne and Hine Rauamoa.
I’ve created a web based version of my maramataka which is a custom calendar. These are easy to create for yourself if you are interested in mapping out your own maramataka.