Whiro

This artwork was done by Hinerangitoariari (Winifred Margaret Belcher, née Foley) from Te Arawa tribe Ngāti Uenukukōpako. It depicts the god Whiro – a personified form of sickness, disease and death. Māori believed that sickness and disease often had spiritual roots. The woman between Whiro’s legs is the goddess of death, Hinenui-te-pō, described by the artist as the ‘mother of mortality’.

Courtesy of Winifred Belcher.

Whakapakoko rākau (god stick)

The whakapakoko rākau or god stick had a pointed end so it could be stuck into the ground. It was used as a temporary shrine for an atua (deity) by tohunga ahurewa (priestly experts). Tohunga were often responsible for healing people, and sometimes used god sticks to concentrate the power of a particular deity.

Māori warrior

This sketch of a Māori warrior was made by Sydney Parkinson, an artist on board the Endeavour when it visited New Zealand. The man’s apparent vitality illustrates Joseph Banks’ comment that Māori appeared to be very healthy.

Making fire

This oil painting, 'Firemaking,' by Gottfried Lindauer shows how pre-European Māori made fire. The man is rubbing a pointed stick of a hard wood, probably kaikōmako, vigorously along a grooved piece of soft māhoe wood. When the māhoe reaches ignition point, a fine fluff of dry moss, wood dust or beaten flax (the pile next to the man) will be placed in the groove to catch alight.

Karamū

Karamū was used by tohunga for healing. A wand made from a karamū branch was used to touch an invalid. It was then taken to a tohunga ahurewa (priestly expert) who would diagnose the illness.

Tūhoto Ariki

This portrait by Gottfried Lindauer is of Tūhoto Ariki, a renowned tohunga of the Tūhourangi people in Rotorua. Tūhoto was a tohunga ahurewa, a priestly expert.

Māui

The demigod Māui is suspended over the smoke of a fire by his grandfather, Tamanui-ki-te-rā, after his near-drowning at sea. Māori used this method to revive those who had almost drowned.

Using harakeke

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/rongoa-medicinal-use-of-plants/3/1

In this video, Tāwhao Tioke explains the uses of harakeke (flax), and notes that traditionally all plants in the bush had some medicinal use. He is from Ngāi Tūhoe, and as a child was taught the traditional uses of plants by his elders.

Kawakawa (1st of 3)

The leaves of the kawakawa plant have a long history of medicinal use. They are still very popular with traditional practitioners for preparing rongoā.

Preparing kawakawa (2nd of 3)

The kawakawa leaves are boiled in a pot to create wai rākau (herbal tonic).

Kawakawa product (3rd of 3)

Once the kawakawa juice has been strained, it is ready to drink.

Rātā

The rātā tree had a number of medicinal uses. The bark could be made into a lotion or poultice, and the flower nectar was used for sore throats.

Medicinal properties of kōkōmuka (koromiko)
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/rongoa-medicinal-use-of-plants/3/4
Hōhepa Kereopa, a tohunga from the Ngāi Tūhoe tribe, explains how kōkōmuka (koromiko) is useful for curing constipation. Eating the young leaves will bring about more regular bowel movements.

Hue

Hue or calabashes were used to hold water, preserved game and medicines.

Kūmarahou

Kūmarahou is still used as a herbal treatment today. One medicine was made by boiling the leaves in water for drinking, which was said to ease rheumatism and asthma

Rangiātea Church, Ōtaki

This painting by Charles Barraud shows the interior of Rangiātea Church at Ōtaki in the mid-1800s. The Ngāti Toa chief Te Rauparaha is said to have inspired the building of this church. It was built for a Māori community, at a time when missionaries had a growing influence on Māori.

Mary Joseph Aubert’s medicine

Paramo was one type of medicine produced by the Catholic nun Mary Joseph (Suzanne) Aubert. She used a mix of western and Māori knowledge to create her products. All had Māori-sounding names, such as Karana, Marupa, Natanata, Wanena, Hapete, Romino and Kekako.

Hue wairua

This modern artwork by Theresa Reihana is called a hue wairua. The hue (gourd) was traditionally used for storing Māori medicines.

Hastings Māori Midwives sign

The Hastings Māori Midwives sign shows a Māori mother cradling her baby. As well as traditional practitioners of rongoā, there are many Māori health providers who offer western medicine with a focus on tikanga Māori.

Mirimiri (massage)

Atarangi Muru, with the help of her mokopuna (grandchild), performs mirimiri on a young woman’s back to help soften scar tissue. Describing her work, Atarangi says, ‘We use sticks, stones, branches (soft leaves for tapping – much like the Turks use birch on the body), our rongoā from the bush and the sea as well as our hands, feet and knees.’