Traditionally Māori see Papatūānuku, the Earth Mother, as the source of all life. She is a parthenogenic mother; her offspring are produced without fertilisation. Her first son was Tāne, and from her all life came. This idea is shadowed in the Gre...

The skin is the largest organ in the body, which means we have to think carefully about what we apply to it. Any particles that are small enough to be absorbed through the top layer of our skin will ultimately end up in the bloodstream. This means...

Kawakawa is one of the most distinctive New Zealand native plants. Māori healers (tohunga) and medical practitioners (kairongoā) traditionally used the kawakawa plant from the bush for its proven healing properties in a wide range of treatments su...

The contemporary Māori art exhibition ‘Toi Tū Toi Ora: Contemporary Māori Art’ which can be seen at the Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki illuminates many different facets of Māori mythology. Using a blend of modern and traditional art, it provide...

What is rongoā?   Rongoā is the traditional holistic Māori healing system, which often uses the medicinal properties of New Zealand native plants. Though early Māori lacked contemporary understanding of the body’s immune system, nonetheless they w...

Mānuka honey is very healing and therapeutic for the skin with potent compounds that provide a rich source of medicinal properties for the skin. Antimicrobial property Firstly, mānuka honey is a rich source of an antibacterial compound cal...