Online course · Self-paced · Three modules
RONGOĀ MĀORI
FOUNDATIONS
Learn Rongoā Māori at home, from a kai rongoā, at your own pace. Six native plants, the tikanga of harvesting, and how to make your own wairākau, hinu and pani.
with Awhina Henry of Awhi Ora Rongoā
& Tarikura Kapea of Āio.
63
women have already studied this courseGold
NZ Podcast Awards 2024, Best Māori & Pacifica Host10 yrs
Awhina's practice as a kai rongoā21
video teachings across three modulesNau mai haere mai, welcome
To our online introduction to Rongoā Māori, with Awhina Henry of Awhiora Rongoā and Tarikura of Āio: The Podcast.
Rongoā Māori is a traditional healing practice born from te taiao, the natural world. It holds our tinana, hinengaro, wairua, whānau and whenua together: body, mind, spirit, community and land.
This course is a gentle, grounded beginning. You'll learn where rongoā comes from, how to approach the plants with respect, and how to make simple rongoā for yourself and your whānau.
We will learn about:
Wairuatanga (spirituality)
Atua Māori (Gods, Guardians)
Aotearoa’s native plants and trees
Tikanga (protocols, customs)
Karakia (prayer, incantations)
Whakapapa (lineage, history)
Patupaiarehe (faeries) & kaitiaki (guardians)
Work with native plants and trees
You were guided here for a reason, a whisper from our ancestors, a tohu (sign) from the taiao (the natural world) maybe a friend or whanaunga (family member) nudged you - what ever the reason, we are honoured that you have arrived.
“Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tūohu koe, me he maunga teitei.”
Pursue that which is precious, and if you bow your head, let it be to a lofty mountain.
This course is for you if…
You're new to te ao Māori or Rongoā Māori, and want a gentle place to start.
You want to understand what rongoā is and where it comes from.
You want to harvest native plants with respect and the right tikanga.
You're curious about wairua and how to connect with it.
You want to make simple rongoā at home for yourself and your whānau.
Three modules:
One a week is the rhythm we suggest.
Each module is about an hour of teaching, with an oro rongo sound meditation and journal prompts to help you integrate what you've learned.
Module One:
He Timatanga/The BeginningIn this module, you will meet Awhina, kai rongoā and your guide for this course. She will explore our whakapapa as Māori through the creation story of Ranginui and Papatūānuku. Awhina will guide us through the journey of Hineahuone, the first woman made of clay created by Tāne, and discuss how this story plays a important role in Rongoā Māori.
She will unpack what Rongoā is and explain common concepts like mauri and wairua. Awhina will also speak about tikanga (protocols) around harvesting and storing your rongoā.
Module Two:
He Rākau/Plants and TreesIn this module, Awhina will introduce six different native plants and trees. She will discuss their:
whakapapa (lineage)
pūrakau (stories) associated with the plants
medicinal benefits
spiritual connections
The six plants explored in this module are kawakawa, horopito, koromiko, kūmarahau, tātaramoa, and kohekohe.
Module Three:
He Pinakitanga/The Level UpIn this module, you will learn various ways to tune in to ā wairua, connect with plant spirits, and work with tohu (signs and symbols). Awhina will explore patupaiarehe (fairies), kaitiaki (guardians), and their roles within Rongoā Māori. You will learn how to safely make a wairākau (plant-infused tea), solar-infused hinu (oil), and a pani (balm).
Please note that materials are not included; you will be provided with a shopping list with a discount code.
What's included
Rongoā Māori Foundations includes
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21 video teachingsSeven in each of the three modules3hours
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Oro rongo sound meditationsOne with each module
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Guided journalingPrompts to help you integrate what you learn
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Āio podcast episodesHand-picked kōrero to deepen your learning
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Karakia phone wallpapersLearn karakia every time you pick up your phone
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Rongoā shopping listWith a discount code for your materials
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Where to find the plantsResources for finding rongoā plants and trees near you
Everything included
More than a course. A practice you keep.
One year of access to everything, so you can come back to a plant or a karakia whenever you need it.
Total value
$259.99
Your price today
$179.99
Meet your teachers
Awhina Henry
Your kai ārahi (guide) and kai rongoā (rongoā practitioner)
Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Ngāti Porou me Te Whanau-ā-Apanui ōku iwi
Ko Rahui me Kaiwaka ōku marae
Ko Awhina Henry tōku ingoa
He kairongoā ahau
Kia ora my name is Awhina and I was raised in a small place on the East Coast of Aotearoa called Tikitiki. Currently live in the Horowhenua with my partner and my son.
I am a Rongoā Māori Practitioner and I have been doing Rongoā for the last 10 years. I have a small pakihi called Awhi Ora Rongoā where I have Rongoā, do online consultations and teach Rongoā. I work in the wairuatanga guided by my tipuna, rākau and atua. Tikanga practices, protecting Papatūānuku and wairuatanga are my values throughout every part of the creation of my rongoā.
Mauri Ora!
Tarikura Kapea
Your guide and facilitator
Ko Taranaki te maunga
Ko Wanganui te awa
Ko Te Ati Haunui-a-Pāpārangi ko Te Ati Awa nga iwi
Ko Putiki me Kauangaroa ōku marae
Ko Aotea te waka
Ko Tupoho te hapu
Tarikura is the kaitiaki (guardian) of Āio: The Podcast — a space for in-depth conversations on holistic health and indigenous wisdom. She believes that healing is not linear, nor are the methods that return us to vitality and wholeness.
As a wāhine Māori, the journey of reindigenising her life has been deeply personal and profoundly liberating — a path she has walked through the healing crafts of te ao Māori.
While the mainstream medical system has advanced humanity in many ways, it often isolates those who do not fit within its philosophies.
By contributing her voice to the growing movement of holistic and indigenous health education, Tarikura hopes we may all become our own healers — looking to nature, our ancestors, and wairua (spirit) for collective healing.
Āio is an award-winning podcast
New Zealand Podcast awards 2024:
-Gold in Best Māori & Pacifica Host,
-Silver for Best health and Wellbeing
-Bronze for Best Independent podcast.
New Zealand Podcast awards 2025:
-Bronze in Best Māori & Pacifica Host, Judges Choice.
“A beautiful introduction to the world of Rongoā Māori, guided by beautiful tutors. It lays a great foundation for those who have a curiosity for Rongoā. It has expanded my understanding of our spiritual connection with te taiao. It has deepened my desire to learn more. “
- Cayla Van Berkel
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"I came in knowing almost nothing about rongoā. Awhina's teachings made it feel close and familiar, not intimidating. Now I walk past kawakawa and know exactly what it's for. It's changed how I look after my whānau. Life is like a butterfly" — Jane Doe, Rotorua
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"I did one module a week and it fitted around mahi and kids. The sound meditations at the end of each module were my favourite part. I've made my first hinu and gifted jars to my sisters. Worth every cent." — John Smith, Ōtautahi Christchurch
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"I'm not Māori and was nervous I wouldn't belong. I was welcomed from the very first video. The tikanga around harvesting taught me real respect for te taiao. I'll be going back through it again and again." — Joe Bloggs, Melbourne, Australia
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"This felt like reconnecting with something my tūpuna knew. Learning the whakapapa of each plant moved me to tears. Simple, grounded, and taught with so much aroha. I've already recommended it to three friends." — Jane Doe, Tauranga
Begin your rongoā journey.
- Rongoā Māori Foundations: 21 videos, 3 hours, 3 modules
- The full Te Taiao meditation collection, free
- Karakia wallpapers, shopping list, plant resources
- One year of access, at your own pace
If it isn't right for you, it's free. Email us within 30 days and we'll refund you in full, no questions asked.
Frequently asked questions
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Everybody! You don’t have to be Māori to engage with this course. However, if you are not Māori, we ask that you hold this information with the utmost respect and work to understand that many Māori are on a journey to reclaim their traditional practices. You can be an ally to Māori by learning some of our ways and traditions (explored in this course). We invite all cultural backgrounds to learn about our sacred ways.
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Yes! We encourage people to start working with plants during and after this course. You can create rongoā for yourself and your whānau. If you are eager to create a business or sell to the general public, we highly recommend gaining more education before doing so. Rongoā is a lifelong journey; only you will know when you are ready.
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You will have access for one year!
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We recommend doing one module per week. There are three modules, so it will take three weeks to complete. Each teaching module is roughly one hour long and dense with knowledge, which is why we suggest spreading it out to get the most out of integrating the information. There will be journal prompts and oro rongo (sound meditations) to support the integration of your lessons. So, you may have about two hours of hands-on learning for each module. The beauty of self-paced courses is that you can move at your own pace, so whatever your intuition is nudging you toward, do that! ;)
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Not at all. This course was made for beginners. Every kupu (word) is explained as we go, so you'll never feel lost. If you're right at the start of your journey with te ao Māori, you're exactly who we had in mind.
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Straight after you sign up, you'll create a login and everything lives in your members' area. You can watch on your phone, tablet or computer, wherever you feel most at home.
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Only for Module three, where you'll make your own wairākau (plant tea), hinu (oil) and pani (balm). You'll get a shopping list with a discount code, so you know exactly what to gather.
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Absolutely. The course is fully online, and we have learners joining from all over the world. The six plants are native to Aotearoa, so you may not find them growing near you, but the teachings on wairua, tikanga, karakia and connecting with te taiao travel with you wherever you are.
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Choose "3 payments" at checkout and your instalments are taken weekly over three weeks. You'll have full access to the course from your first payment.
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We want this to feel right for you. If it doesn't, email us within 30 days of signing up and we'll refund you in full.
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No. Rongoā works alongside your health care, not instead of it. If you're hapū (pregnant), breastfeeding, taking medication or managing a health condition, please kōrero with your doctor or health practitioner before using any rongoā.
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Flick us an email at aiothepodcast@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you.
Why This Work Is Important
Māori philosophies and practices are on the rise as we honour the struggles and sacrifices of our ancestors, who fought to preserve this invaluable knowledge. It’s crucial for us to re-indigenise our lives. One powerful way to achieve this is by understanding healing modalities rooted in ancient wisdom—gifts from the taiao, the natural world.
As tangata whenua (people of this land) and tangata o te Tiriti (people of the treaty), we are responsible for cultivating a foundation of understanding of Māori culture and philosophies. This knowledge inspires us to live in harmony with the whenua (land), the elements, spirit, and all living beings that call this place home. By embracing these teachings, we contribute to a more