A community member receiving treatment from a tauira Photo / Supplied
A community member receiving treatment from a tauira Photo / Supplied
A new community outreach programme being run in Rotorua is teaching students the power of rongoā or traditional Māori healing therapies.
It's giving students a greater chance to develop self-confidence in working with rongoā while making services more accessible to local whānau.
Rongoā healing includes a wide range of techniques such as the use of traditional medicines.
Especially ones based on the "alpha" ingredient of kawakawa leaves, mirimiri and romiromi, (massage), and the use of waiora (water healing).
All are underpinned by spiritual practices.
The course has been introduced by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Rongoā kaiako (teacher) Taratoa Ratema, who started tutoring a Level 4 Certificate course this year.
She said previously she was involved with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa's Manaaki Tangata social work programme which included students gaining experience in the community.
"I've brought this approach to the way I'm teaching rongoā."
A community member receiving treatment from a tauira Photo / Supplied
"Under my supervision, the tauira (students) get to practice on people seeking traditional Māori rongoā healing therapies, while members of the community get to access rongoā services."
The course itself teaches koha using a broad range of reo structures and tikanga practices associated with rongoā to enhance mana reo.
Also, kaitaikitanga which is about applying knowledge of tikanga concepts to the practice of rongoā as an expression of mana whenua.
Āhurutanga explores developing an understanding of the history and practice of rongoā as an expression of mana tangata and mauri ora.
And mauri ora, which is about applying and integrating a broad range of tikanga concepts and rongoā practices as an expression of mana ao tūroa.
Ratema said has 14 students on her course this year and another 25 applications from people wanting to study Rongoā next year.
"There's a real thirst to learn about rongoā out in the community in Rotorua."
Course graduates can pathway to working with Māori whānau and communities, local and regional bodies and agencies seeking to broaden their knowledge base in kaupapa Māori principles and practices.
"Students can also continue their learning by enrolling into a diploma in rongoā – Level 5 course," she said.
Ratema said she had identified groups of people wanting to access rongoā through her community networks in Rotorua.
Delivery of these services has happened at places such as marae and community centres.
Services offered to the community include a local Hauora (health) day at Pikirangi marae, whānau Ora (family health); kaitiakitanga (Rongoā protocols); taiao wananga (environmental workshop) and kaimahi Ora which means wellbeing at work.
If interested in studying rongoā at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa should call 0800 355 553.
