Ko wai mātou? About us
Hailing from the beautiful Ngā Motu, our whānau has been dedicated to the study and practice of rongoā, traditional Māori healing, for over 20 years. With a deep passion for holistic wellbeing, healing modalities, and the regeneration of our taiao, our founder, Te Raumahora, brings extensive experience across public health, mental health and addictions support, and suicide prevention. Raised within the teachings of the whare wānanga, and guided by the legacy of our last poropiti, Arekahanara Piripi, her practice is grounded in mātauranga tuku iho, whakapapa, and wairua.
Our whānau has also been actively involved in hapū and iwi development, alongside cultural consultancy, working to empower, uplift, and restore balance within our communities. We carry a strong commitment to taiao regeneration and have worked within environmental and kai sovereignty spaces alongside our hapū, supporting initiatives that restore the mauri of our whenua and strengthen food resilience for our people.
Te Raumahora, a respected leader within our whānau, holds an impressive array of qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts in Mātauranga Māori, a Postgraduate Certificate in Māori and Indigenous Leadership, and a Master’s degree in Māori and Indigenous Leadership, alongside a Diploma in Rongoā Māori. She also holds certifications in karanga, supervision, tikanga, Te Reo Māori, Māori Business Management, and Health Promotion, reflecting a lifelong commitment to excellence in cultural knowledge and practice. Her professional profile can also be viewed via LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/te-raumahora-hema-939477259/).
Te Raumahora has held a range of governance roles, including with her hapū Ngāti Te Whiti, Te Kopae Tamariki Ki Ū Te Reo, Ngā Mata Waka Kapa Haka Mt Isa, and Taranaki Retreat. Her contributions extend across kaupapa Māori organisations, including her involvement with Rautapatu (https://www.rautapatu.nz/our-team-ng%C4%81-tangata) and Taranaki Retreat (https://taranakiretreat.org.nz/teropu/), where she has supported the strengthening of Māori-led initiatives and community wellbeing.
Taiao Hema, another respected member of our whānau, has built an extensive career within the mental health and addictions sector, alongside cultural consultancy and community development. He holds a Diploma in Mātauranga Māori and certifications in Te Reo Māori, whaikōrero, Māori studies, tikanga, and Māori Business Management. As Pou Hiwa for Oranga Matihiko, he leads innovative approaches to empowering rangatahi through education and digital technologies. Taiao remains an integral part of Papa Toa, carrying forward the teachings of rongoā, particularly in the use of native plants, ensuring the continuation of our ancestral knowledge and healing practices.
At Papa Toa, we are a whānau-driven entity dedicated to perpetuating the rich cultural heritage of Te Ao Māori. Our tamariki, the future custodians of our legacy, are an integral part of our succession plan and are educated within Kura Kaupapa Māori. Immersed in the values, tikanga, and mātauranga of our people, they are nurtured to become confident carriers of rongoā Māori, which remains a living and practiced part of our daily lives.
Through this intergenerational approach, alongside our commitment to healing, taiao restoration, and kai sovereignty, we ensure the protection, continuation, and evolution of our ancestral knowledge, empowering the next generation to carry our vision forward with strength, integrity, and purpose.
