Kelvin Solomon plays traditional Maori instrument at Te Hauora Tangata Ki Horowhenua in Levin.
Two alternative healing practitioners from different backgrounds found they had a lot in common when they sat down for a chat the Te Hauora Tangata Ki Horowhenua wellbeing expo in Levin at the weekend.
Kelvin Solomon and Gina Prendergast might be from different backgrounds, but there was an uncanny amount of spiritual similarity to their different practises.
Solomon was a traditional Māori energy healer and Prendergast was a reiki and energy healer, although both used hand-off methods as a way to help heal the spirits.
The two shared intimate notes and gave each other an insight into what it was they did and were trying to do, and what they saw and felt as they did it.
They realised that while each had their own techniques, there was an incredible amount of shared language and an understanding and intuition of what it was each other did.
Prendergast said it was all about empowering people to see what they were capable of in the first place.
"It's our birthright to access the life force that is here and we want to empower people to use it," she said.
Reiki teacher and energy healer Gina Prendergast and traditional energy healer Kelvin Solomon took time to discuss what they do and the simililarities between them.
Solomon said it was important to kōrero a wairua and often used a taonga pūoro (instrument) to incorporate the frequency of sound, too.
They were surrounded by other alternative health practitioners that had travelled to be part of the expo.
Heke Rongoa practitioners Maudy Tupe, Mate Tihema and Rita Tupe travelled to the expo to perform their traditional healing practices, they received a rave review from Feilding woman Masina Paewai who sat down in the chair.
Maudy Tupe (Tūhoe) performs some traditional healing practices on Masina Paewai from Feilding.
"They know what they are doing. That was an 11 out of 10, at least," she said.
In the next room was Levin's Tara Mallon, a registered nurse of 25 years who was using the expo as a chance to spread awareness of an exciting new programme called Inamojo, aimed at helping younger children build their emotional intelligence and wellbeing.
As an accredited Inamojo facilitator, Mallon was helping a variety of children to build self-confidence and self-esteem, and was teaching them compassion and kindness and to trust their own instincts, and had a growing list of testimonials.
Tara Mallon from Inamojo.
"It's about empowering children to be safe and secure in who they are," she said.
In amongst it all was talented harp player Shelly Hanley from Shannon, who set an incredibly relaxing scene in the main massage room with her melodies.
Shelly Hanley from Shannon contributed to an amazing experience for those receiving traditional massage by playing a harmony so relaxing people were falling asleep.
Meanwhile, organisers of the popular expo that showcased traditional and holistic healing practitioners could be forced to look for a bigger venue for the event next year.
Te Hauora Tangata Ki Horowhenua was the brainchild of Levin woman Renee MacDonald, who organised the first event last year, and already it had grown into an annual event with an eye to organising next year's expo now.
Makeup artist Tamsyn Field applies some foundation to Kahurangi Morrison at Te Hauora Tangata Ki Horowhenua at the weekend.
The event aimed at showcasing traditional and holistic wellbeing practitioners that exist within the community. It was held at the Te Whare Manawa Community hub at Levin RSA.
MacDonald said the event had grown from the inaugural event last year and the feedback was so positive that they might be forced to look at a bigger venue for next year, with the possibility of using the Levin Memorial Hall and adjacent Village Green next year.
"It was an amazing day," she said.
Make-up artist Tamsyn Field applies some foundation to Kahurangi Morrison at Te Hauora Tangata Ki Horowhenua at the weekend.
