Maori-Owned Businesses to Try For a Traditional Wellness Experience in Tamaki Makaurau

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Whether you've travelled from near or far for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ (or you're lucky enough to call Tāmaki Makaurau home), indulge in a moment of wellness at one of these eight outstanding pakihi Māori (Māori businesses). Test the waters with gentle skincare and native rongoā (Māori medicine) or go all in with a powerful Indigenous healing session to rest and recover the authentic Māori way.

There is a whakataukī (Māori proverb) that says, "He oranga ngākau, he pikinga waiora." Simply put, it translates to "positive feelings in your heart will raise your sense of self-worth."

Mauri ora!

MANAAKI WELLBEING

Nurture your tinana (body) and restore your wairua (spirit) at this beautiful holistic day spa located in central Tāmaki. Whether you're enjoying a blissful massage, signature facial, reflexology, or rongoā Māori healing session, the philosophy of Manaaki Wellbeing is to provide tailor-made treatments, so you know everything here is designed with individual hauora (well-being) needs in mind. If you're feeling jaded from too many late nights or a long-haul flight, you can't go wrong with one of the tranquil Spa Sundays packages to help you recharge.

Find out more information here or check it out in person at Manaaki Wellbeing, 85 Saint Lukes Road, Sandringham, Auckland.

AROHA LOVE

Football games are great but have you ever been to a place that offers healing bodywork, balancing massages, bespoke facial therapy, cacao and sound healing ceremonies, reiki, rongoā Māori, and yoga and dance classes? If all of that sounds like a bit of you, Aroha Love is where it's at.

This fantastic wellness and healing centre also has a thoughtfully curated shop with candles, crystals, journals, incense and beauty essentials to fulfil all your self-care ritual needs. Because what's the point in walking out of an appointment feeling like you're on a cloud if you can't continue floating once you get home?

Find out more information online or check it out in person at Aroha Love, 3 Maidstone Street, Grey Lynn, Auckland.

MAIDEN TĀMAKI

The kaimirimiri (bodywork practitioners) and kairongoā (rongoā Māori practitioners) at the helm of this whareora (wellbeing facility) have a collective 60 years of experience in traditional Māori healing, so you know you're not just in good hands but the best ones. Quite literally.

Wai-Sharne Raynes (Ngāti Whātua) is the founder of Maiden Tāmaki, providing ancestral therapies of massage, mirimiri (Māori massage), and reiki to people on her whenua (land). This experience is guaranteed to feel transformative, balancing and, quite simply, remarkable; you'll soon be a proponent for Māori healing in its truest form.

Discover more information online or visit in person at Maiden Tāmaki, Ōrākei Marae, 59B Kitemoana Street, Ōrākei, Auckland.

KAWACURE

Harness the healing power of plants with KawaCure's natural rongoā Māori products. Their kaupapa (policy) is to harvest plants for the products in accordance with traditional rongoā principles, including the offering of karakia (prayer) and prioritising the safeguarding and sustainability of their sources. The hero rākau (plant) is kawakawa — a New Zealand native identified by its distinctive heart-shaped leaves — made into soothing skincare for an array of ailments from sunburn and dry skin to eczema and aching muscles. For us amateur and professional athletes, Tutu Sore Muscle Soak is a divine addition to a post-match bath. Mauri tau (relax)!

Find out more info about KawaCure on the website.

AOTEA CONCEPT STORE

As one of the first brands to put rongoā products on the mainstream map, your trip won't be complete without visiting Aotea's Commercial Bay location to check out their therapeutic skincare range inspired by traditional Māori remedies. Aotea marries the power of mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) with scientific research to prove and maximise the efficacy of plant resources like kawakawa, harakeke and kūmarahou. Feeling spoilt for choice? Soothing, hydrating and sans residue, the Harakeke Seed Oil & Mānuka Water Hand & Body Cream is one to always keep in your handbag on a daily basis and your carry-on when travelling.

Discover more information about Aotea online or visit the store at Shop 31, Ground Floor, Commercial Bay, Auckland CBD.

MayaNZ via iStock

MOEKAWA HEALTH

If you're game for making headway on that injury or energetic blockage (IYKYK) that has been giving you grief for far too long, this popular Shore-based clinic is the ideal place for getting you back on track. Guided by te ao Māori (the Māori world), founder Chelsee Peita (Ngāti Hine) offers mirimiri to bring about overall balance and therapeutic sports massage to get you ready for game day. At Moekawa Health, it's all about listening to your tīnana (body) e te whānau.

Check out more information on the website or visit Moekawa Health at 1/41 Paul Matthews Road, Rosedale, Auckland.

SHIATSU DON

Let James Hancox (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Wai) of Shiatsu Don guide you on a haerenga (journey) deep within as he works his magic with holistic bodywork to hold space for your healing. His unique fusion of three modalities seeks to cultivate balance in the body and mind: zen shiatsu (an energetic massage technique with roots in traditional Chinese medicine), Thai yoga and musculoskeletal integration. If it sounds impressive, that's because it is. Beyond the standard 60-minute bodywork sessions which you can book online, packages for those wishing to accelerate their progression are also available. And if need be, James offers mobile bodywork sessions where he comes to your home, hotel or Airbnb - text him at 022-151-0527 to book.

Book your session on the website or visit Shiatsu Don in person in Mt Eden, Auckland.

FRANKIE APOTHECARY

Say haere rā (goodbye) to countless lotions and potions and kia ora (hello) to Frankie Apothecary's infamous multi-purpose kawakawa repair balm. This rongoā Māori-inspired product heals eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis, works as a nappy barrier cream, remedies cradle cap, bug bites and cuts and bruises, eases sunburn, and can be enjoyed as an intensive overnight moisturiser. If you've been searching for an all-natural, zero-nasties range that is safe for the whole whānau (family), this brand is sure to be a staple in your whare (home).

Find out more information on the website.

The FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ is on Tāmaki Makaurau from July 20th till August 15th. For more information, check out the FIFA™ website.

Whāriki thanks Tātaki Auckland Unlimited for their support and partnership for this feature.

Whāriki is a Māori business network connecting pakihi Māori across the motu. If you are a Māori business owner or want to learn more about the Māori business community, head to the website and discover their rārangi pakihi (business directory).

Words: Skye Ross, Ngāti Kahungunu