Rongoaa
Te Ahi Kaa provides rongoaa to individuals with an accepted ACC claim. Rongoaa service offers traditional Māori healing practices, including mirimiri (therapeutic bodywork), karakia (spiritual prayer/incantation), and whitiwhiti kōrero (therapeutic conversation and counselling) as part of a holistic kaupapa Māori service model for those seeking culturally safe engagement in their health and healing journeys.
What the Service Provides
Individual rongoaa sessions that integrate traditional healing, mirimiri, karakia, and group or one-on-one kōrero.
Wānanga (learning workshops) and Tuakana-Teina mentoring to support the development of new kairongoā (practitioners), intergenerational knowledge transfer, and cultural revitalisation.
Support for individuals with accepted ACC claims for physical injuries, sensitive claims, mental health needs, or those seeking a Māori worldview approach alongside mainstream care.
You will receive an initial referral of up to 4 sessions, if you need any extensions we can request this directly from ACC.
Referral Pathway
You can contact ACC directly and request a rongoaa referral. Your GP or other health professional can also make a referral directly to Te Ahi Kaa, or any other registered ACC rongoaa provider. If you're having difficulty, please contact our Te Ara Tūhono team who can help guide you through the process.
Who Can Access the Service
You must have an ACC claim and we encourage everyone of all ages, backgrounds, and conditions who seek Māori healing as part of their rehabilitation or wellbeing journey.
If you don’t have an ACC claim and feel that rongoaa would be beneficial to your healing journey, please give us a call and we can see how we can awhi.
Frequently asked questions
What is rongoaa?
Rongoaa traditional healing practice including mirimiri (therapeutic massage), rakau rongoaa (native plant medicine), karakia (prayer/incantation), and whitiwhiti kōrero (therapeutic conversation), delivered by trained whakapapa-based practitioners in culturally safe environments.
Who can access ACC-funded rongoā services through Te Ahi Kaa?
Anyone with an approved ACC claim who would like to incorporate rongoaa into their rehabilitation, recovery, or wellbeing journey can access this service. This includes people with physical injuries, sensitive claims, mental health needs, or anyone seeking a Māori-centered approach to health and wellness.
How do I get referred for rongoaa?
Referrals can be made by:
ACC case manager
GP or other approved health practitioner
How long can I access support?
ACC approves 4 initial sessions, after this the frequency and duration of sessions are tailored to each kiritaki (client) needs as decided with you, your kai rongoaa and ACC. An agreed plan will be sent through to ACC for any ongoing sessions.
Does rongoaa affect my other treatments?
Rongoaa can be accessed alongside other therapies (such as physiotherapy, counseling, or mainstream medical care) as part of a holistic plan.
Can non-Māori access this service?
Yes, rongoaa is available for all ethnicities and backgrounds. The service is grounded in tikanga Māori but welcomes and supports all who feel that a kaupapa Māori approach aligns with their healing needs.
What outcomes can be expected?
Kiritaki regularly report improved hauora (wellbeing) outcomes, improved tinana (physical) outcomes, enhanced knowledge of cultural practices, improvement in physical and mental resilience, and stronger connections to identity and community.
Who delivers the service?
Services are provided by qualified, iwi-endorsed practitioners—many of whom are active kairongoaa (rongoaa practitioner) guiding both whānau and future practitioners through a tuakana-teina (mentoring) model.
What do I do if I have more questions?
Contact us if you have any other questions — details for referral or kaupapa-specific queries can be provided by our rongoaa team on -
09 238 1816 or 0800 524 942.
