Ko Wai Mātou

He uri mātou no Ruawaipu, Ngāti Porou me Ngai Tūhoe. He mihi nui ki o mātou tīpuna katoa.

Ko Bella-Marie Kaa (tā māua māmā), mātou ko Mererangi Kaa ko Hoana Kaa.

We are home-based in Waiwhetū, Lower Hutt, Wellington. As a whānau of three wāhine Māori we work together to offer rongoā services and products bringing health and wellbeing from a Te Ao Māori Rongoā perspective.

We bring over 30 years’ experience in rongoā. For over 7 years, we are honoured to learn from our mentor (our Aunty) and continue learning from her, who brings over 40 years’ experience in rongoā. 

We are guided by her akonga that take us back to Self ‘Ko Wai Au’, discovering the infinite possibilities within — an evolving journey of reconnecting with Self. We explore and are a small part of the infinite continuum Te Kore, Te Pō, Te Whei Ao ki Te Ao Mārama, tā mātou rauru. We release what is no longer needed, we deepen our connection to Self restoring balance within.

Te Ao Rongoā has been our healing, guiding us back to ourselves 'ko wai au', to the joy, aroha and care Ranginui rāua ko Papatūānuku bring within. To return within is to return to our tīpuna, Atua, me tātou kaihanga ki a Io Matua Kore.

After over seven years of in-depth learning though the guidance of our Aunty we are now ready to share our kaupapa rongoā and support others in ways rongoā supported and supports us.

Ngā Mihi Aroha.

Te Kawa/Our Values

Our values are the foundation of all we do. They are the wisdoms inherited from our tīpuna that guide our evolving practice, relationships, and responsibility to Ranginui rāua ko Papatuānuku.

1. Kaitiakitanga | Caretakership & Reciprocity

We are teina (younger relations) to our tuakana, ngā Atua me Te Taiao. Our primary duty is active, respectful care for all realms – people, their communities, and Te Taiao. We learn this role through traditional roles such as pōhiri, pakiwaitara and pūrākau, and practice it through conscientising mindful caretakership and guardianship of knowledge, resources, and the environment.

2. Kotahitanga | Unity & Collective Responsibility

We work as a village in knowing there are thousands of our tīpuna who stand beside us as we walk into our futures. Wellbeing is interconnected and we must offer compassion to share in the responsibility of our kinship to everything. 

3. Manaakitanga | Nurturing Care & Safe Space

We commit to a journey of healing, which requires a foundation of profound care. We consciously create, safe, nurturing spaces that protect the mana, wairua and mauri (M. Goldsmith) of all Tangata and Te Taiao, for in depth learning, growth, and healing with trust and dignity.

4. Aroha | Deep Connection & Reverence

True understanding comes from looking inward to connect with the life forces around. We hold a deep reverence for all of the natural universe/te taiao, celestial and terrestrial, that give us life. We are humbled by the responsibility to honour our relationship.

5. Koha | Reciprocity & Breath of Life

Our practice is a service of giving and receiving, a continuous force. ‘Ko’ is to dig deep and ‘Ha’ is the breath of life, representing the cycle of life. Oxygen is provided to us by ngā rākau, and we provide them carbon dioxide. Ultimately, we are birthed from and bonded by an eternal relationship, a reminder of who we are, our connection, role and where we come from.

6. Rongoā | Deep Listening & Holistic Communication

Rongoā as the art of peace and realm of humanity, is the practice of communing with the deepest part of ourselves. It involves holistic communication that embraces all senses both physical and spiritual. We honour rāhui as a sacred and restricted wā for deep listening, creating the space where true healing and understanding can emerge.