Kia ora, ko Joanne Hakaraia-Olson tōku ingoa. I am a Māori wahine born and raised in Ōtaki, Aotearoa. The Tararua ranges, the Ōtaki and Waitohu rivers raised me. My parents are both Ngāti Raukawa and Ngāti Whakaue.  My waka are Tainui and Te Arawa.

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​I am a Rongoā Māori healer, continuing the legacy of my ancestors. My great-great-great-grandmother, Mereruia Hakaraia, along with her sister Heneti, were kairongoā. These remarkable medicine women dedicated significant time to cultivating land on Kāpiti Island, which was entrusted to them by Te Rauparaha in the 1800s. ​This tūpuna kuia was among the Māori women who signed the Suffrage Petition in 1893. She signed it using her anglicized name, Mary Bevan.

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Mereruia's grandfather, Rawiri Te Wanui, was trained for the ministry by Hadfield and was ordained as a Deacon in 1872. He also worked as an assistant to James McWilliams at Rangiatea Church.

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My mother, Rosalie, and her mother, also named Rosalie, were both healing practitioners in the Christian Science church. My grandmother is Scottish and she married Tamati Hohipuha from Ngāti Raukawa, and they resided in Ōtaki. I learned to connect with plants through my Scottish grandmother, who also taught me the healing power of prayer. Neither my mother nor my grandmother relied on conventional medicine, which laid the groundwork for my healing practice today.

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My father would use rongoā to treat his rugby injuries, while my mother would gather the necessary plants from outside for him. I was eager to learn, but my dad wanted to prioritize my safety and was concerned for me. At the time, I didn’t fully grasp his reasoning, but I understand it now. Once you acquire knowledge, a significant responsibility comes with it, and the learning process never truly ends. Throughout my teenage years, I experimented with plants, creating remedies for my skin. I cherished the experience and the sacredness that came with applying them. In 2010, after moving to Auckland, I began studying rongoā in earnest. My most influential teacher was Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa (Waitakere Ranges).

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​Rongoā Mauri emerged from a deep calling to engage with the indigenous plants of Aotearoa. I discovered a profound connection with the mauri of these plants, enabling me to understand a different language. Since then, I have dedicated my life to collaborating with these plants, sharing their spiritual insights through rongoā and kōrero (plant medicine and messages).

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​For many indigenous cultures around the world, plants and the natural world are the pure resonance of AIO, the Supreme Being. This is the esoteric component of indigenous medicine. Our tūpuna left us a guide-book and a map to enter these realms.

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 I created a waka, an esoteric vessel, to navigate my way through the ngaherehere (forest). One tree at a time. I gathered a roopū (group) to come along with me and we studied the trees that protect the ngahere. Then we went further into the ngaherehere and studied the Rākau Rangatira (Older trees). This path is considered tapu and it was forbidden to enter up until recently. The tapu was lifted. I dedicate my life to this work and I am deeply humbled and grateful to my tūpuna and kaitiaki for the journey.​

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I work alongside my husband, Nick Olson at The Rongoā Mauri Studio in West Auckland. 

I feel truly grateful to collaborate with him. Together, we make an excellent team. We have been married for two decades and throughout this time, Nick has been my rongoā harvesting partner, frequently placing himself in risky situations to gather specific plants.

We collectively offer a harmonious blend of male and female energy in our healing practice.This synergy not only enriches our work but also enhances the experiences of those who seek our treatments.

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We are ACC Registered to provide Rongoā Māori services to ACC claimants.

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Joanne Hakaraia-Olson

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