Te Whare o Rongo

11/12/2025

10/12/2025

My absolutely fave essential oil
And I don't have many of my own favourite blends
Where I don't include 'Franky'

It is my go too for grounding foot soaks
An amazing skin restorer in a roller ball hinu/ oil
And generally it balances and grounds any blend

While this brand is more expensive
I have tried most in New Zealand
And doTERRA has a richer consistency
Depth of fragrance and quality

Anyway, Frankincense
Carries its age old resonance of being the 'King of Oils'
And I always feel like a Queen when I diffuse or wear it
Honestly, try it and you will know ###

04/12/2025

Our Makete Rongoa - Rongoa Market
Launches this Rakaunui o Hakihea
Saturday, 6 December 2025 at 10am

We're so excited to offer this opportunity
Where our Kairongoa get to share mauri and space
Offering their individual knowledge and years of experience

If you're visiting the Kapiti Coast,
Or are in Waiaknae - then come and bless us with a 'Kia Ora'

Check out our Kairongoa Profiles
This took great courage to elicit
As its not really in their nature to self-promote
That's what Te Whare o Rongo is all about
Harnessing and cultivating our collective strengths

Titiro mai koutou ma

01/12/2025

ARI
1.12.25

Can hardly believe
How the year is romping by
I remember in Whiringa ā nuku
Longing for the warmth of Summer

And now nearing Turu, we’re inching into
This new - confused weather system
In a time where we experience
Three seasons in one day

My moods are so attuned to the moon
That I don’t even need to check
Some days I just know where we’re at
Through my emotional responses

ARI communicative fire 🔥 was present today
While facilitating a Rongoā Tī
Hauora workshop for Kāpiti Carers
It was a mix of wonderful people from across
The Kāpiti Health Provider Network

My initial mauri read was:

People were short & tired
Impatient & not listening
Prolonged stress can do that to you
As a result self-care & humility
Can fall off the personal list of priorities

I have absolute empathy for this
As it can cause momentary lapses
But I also will not put up with people
Who demand access to our traditional
Knowledge without coming through
The waharoa - front gate

Our mātauranga is too precious
To diminish its worth to those
Who don’t intend to honour or protect it

I’ve had too many years experience
To not know this āhuatanga
And actually that’s my role
As a Kaitiaki of this taonga tuku iho

I won’t apologise for setting right
Someone’s poor behaviour
Or ignorance to cultural practice
I will hold a line if it is crossed

It’s simple - Respect our taonga

Treat all Rongoā like your Grandmother
With respect, honour and reverence
Uplift her, support her and most of all
Love her unconditionally

That’s how Rongoā should be shared
Into this world of busy schedules
And more worries than we need

Slow down to her living pulse
Meet Rongoā at her own threshold
And what you seek will be revealed to you
As the moko of her puna

He taonga te Rongoā tuku ihoe

28/11/2025

An old story but a good story ###

New Maramataka launched with a message of resilience and hope.

Great news for fans of the popular Maramataka series of rongoā calendars - a new Maramataka was launched on 15 July at Hongoeka Marae, Plimmerton.

As in previous years, the Maramataka was created by the Rongoā Collective of the Ā.R.T. Confederation (Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Toa Rangatira). The pou, or leaders, of the Collective are

Sharlene Maoate-Davis, Pania Solomon and Hemaima Wiremu. They talk about this year’s theme - “Toitū Te Rangatiratanga”.

Sharlene (Te Āti Awa) explains: “These are changing and uncertain times. Many people are looking for reassurance and support, and we believe the words and deeds of our tūpuna can provide valuable lessons. Look at the Māori population at the turn of the 20th century - we were considered a dying race. But through adaptability and resilience we’ve not just survived, we’ve flourished.“

“Some people,” adds Pania (Ngāti Toa Rangatira), “think Rongoā stops with traditional Māori herbal medicine, but it’s so much more. It’s a holistic system that can help physically, mentally and spiritually. That’s why this year’s Maramataka focuses less on ‘recipes’ and more on attitudes and aspirations.”

“We’re very excited about this year’s Maramataka,” says Hemaima (Ngāti Raukawa). “We feel the ‘Toitū te Rangatiratanga’ message will resonate with a great many people.”

If she’s right, you’d better hurry. Despite increasing the print run each year, the Maramataka always sells out fast.

Note to our Iwi Members: The Tari will have copies available for regular recipients and a limited number for other Iwi members that express an interest to receive a copy. No need to make contact if you are a regular recipient, distribution will be underway in the next week. Other expressions of interest from our Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai whānau please email office-coordinator@teatiawakikapiti.co.nz

28/11/2025

TE MARAMATANGA O TE MARAMATAKA
Tamatea AĪO
28.11.25

It was fab to be with a local Kai Tāmoko today
Who when setting dates
Turned to our Maramataka
Which was marked up with her appointments
I so enjoyed my kōrero with her
About the dates she prefers to moko
Or not moko

It’s unadulterated moments like these
When you truly appreciate
How important it was/ is to put these
Taonga tuku iho into the world

This Rongoā version of Maramataka
Was developed from our shared wisdom
For our people to embrace
And use to its fullest
In life changing moments
Just like these

Maramataka 🌒 geeking!!

26/11/2025

Our Rongoā studio
In the heart of Waikanae

“Such a mauri tau space to heal in”

“This was just what I needed - from the best”

“I’ve never experienced anything like this before - no words can explain how I feel”

“I haven’t felt this clear for decades - ngā mihi”

10/09/2025

10/09/2025

Kia Ora mai tatou,

Come and join us of Te Whare o Rongo
From 8.30pm at Rongomaraeroa, Level 4

We will be having a korero with tungane, Taamihana Kaatene
Talking about Koanga & Rongo
And establishing a Tuahu to usher in the mauri of Koanga

Taamihana will share his skill & knowledge
In Taonga Puoro, whakairo and so much more...

Nau mai, rarau mai e te iwi
Kia horahia te mauri o Koanga ###

04/08/2025

PUREA NEI

There are huge shifts emerging
Since the turn of Whiro
~ the new moon of Hereturikōkā

My body has felt the realignment
From being light bodied & agile
To feeling heavy & aching in core areas
I won’t toil over it
But I have had to consciously
Apply Rongoā approaches on the daily

Rongoā in terms of its fullness
Sensing the different Ātua
Being with their energy more fully
Embracing a part of my whakapapa - heritage
That is a direct descent line to Ngāti Ātua

Going to the moana
Playing Taonga Pūoro
Cleaning and clearing
Taking tinctures & decoctions
Having body work
Seeking deep conversations
Breathwork with karakia

My highlight was a pure ahiahi
Using kauri and manuka
That was the pinnacle and a turning point
To relinquish & renew under the growing
Light of Hina Marama
She definately delivered

So whānau, don’t become stuck
With only one way to feel & experience
The full vitality of your life

Ka ora! Ka ora!

The dark is only possible
Because we know there is light
In this I trust, in this I embrace
As we continue to walk each other home

Tihei Mauri Ora e!!!!

16/06/2025

KOREKORE TURUA
17.6.25

As we sit in the Korekore phase
We begin to prepare for
The auspicious Tangaroa cycle
Which heralds in the Matariki season

I wonder what you’re doing?
Today and tomorrow to put to bed
The past years learnings
In order to enter into this New Year

As per our cyclic compass
We are in the fullness of Takurua
With the thermometer peaking at 1 degrees
And tio appearing on Papa
Huka blanketing our Mounga

This freshness in the morning
Is for taking those deep,
Long breaths in
Cycling in this new energy

And breathing out
From deep within the belly
Anything stuck or not needed

Cast it out with aroha
Disentangle it with rangimārie
You are so ready for this next
Life adventure

I’m entering into Hautapu as of tomorrow
And will use ritual to reset my
Inner and outer navigational system
Through Puanga & Matariki
Alongside my trusted and faithful
Hina Marama

What are you doing to
Release > Renew?

Get your fire 🔥 set
It’s going to be an amazing year
Are you ready ###