Multiple sclerosis diagnosis leads to rongoā Māori studies
After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 19, Arron Learmond began a journey of learning, researching and experimenting with herbal medicine and rongoā Māori.
Now at 46, he has just completed the Level 4 Certificate in Rongoā at the Kawerau campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. This allowed him to get the credentials he needed to serve him in the work he has been doing for many years.
“I decided to study rongoā because of my healing journey. 26 years ago, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and that’s the root of my journey. I wanted to find answers, so I went into herbal medicine.”
Two years ago, Arron opened Coastline Wellness Studio in Whakatāne to provide well-being services to his local community. These services include remedial massage, mirimiri, life coaching and rongoā.
Since completing the rongoā programme, Arron has registered with ACC New Zealand to provide rongoā services and says it has given him the confidence he needed to further reach his community.
“The programme guided me to share the knowledge that I’ve gained and it gave me the guts to do it. The scientific and experimental nature of the course reignited that curiosity in me to go out and create different concoctions.”
Arron was impressed with how engaging the programme and his kaiako (teacher), Vanessa Skipper, were. He said the learning went deeper than just rongoā.
“It’s a very practical programme which makes a lot of sense, given the nature of the content. It was exciting to learn everything, from tikanga right through to putting remedies together. It was refreshing.”
Arron hopes that through his clinic and the new knowledge he’s gained, he can continue to serve his community’s well-being and health needs.
“My biggest goal is to keep doing my work and sharing it with the community on all levels, not just in my clinic. I want to take it out to the community a bit further. It’s not just about plants; it’s about people; it’s about communication; it’s about connection.”
Pūrongo whakahirahira
Featured stories
Finding a deeper sense of self through te ao Māori
Moving to Aotearoa from rural Australia as a teenager, Lily Warring found herself wanting to learn more about the culture and language of the place she now called home.
A journey shaped by whānau and a love of tamariki
Members of Tayla-Marie Takawe’s (Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Maniapoto) whānau were among the first tauira to graduate from the Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching) at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Reconnecting to te ao Māori through raranga
Haylee Roussel (Ngāti Rārua, Rangitāne, Ngāti Maniapoto) was searching for a way to reconnect with te ao Māori when she enrolled in the Certificate in Māori and Indigenous Art, Raranga, at the Waiwhero campus of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
Creating the spark for business success
With plenty of experience as an electrician, Josh Verstraten was ready to branch out from employee to business owner, but he knew running a successful business would require a new set of skills.
From financial stress to financial freedom for Auckland whānau
For Augustine Kopa, studying the Certificate in Money Management at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa was about creating a better future for her whānau.
Two generations, one reo Māori journey
When Melody Francis (Ngāti Kahungunu) saw the positive impact that studying te reo Māori had on her mum, she decided to jump on the waka and begin the journey alongside her.
Tikanga study boosts whānau presence on marae
Patrick and Donna Tobin (Ngāti Kahu) are a brother-and-sister duo studying tikanga alongside their wider whānau at Te Paatu Marae in Kaitaia, all working towards the betterment of their whānau, iwi, and marae.
A teacher’s path to understanding tikanga
Originally from South Africa, Franda Zondagh has called Aotearoa home since 2003, but it was through studying He Papa Tikanga with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa that she began to feel a deeper connection to the place she lives and people she serves in her mahi.
Leading by example and learning te reo Māori
Liisa Wharepapa’s (Te Whānau ā Apanui) journey with te reo Māori wasn’t something that happened overnight, it was a goal waiting to be pursued until the moment she felt ready to take that step.
Returning home and reclaiming te reo Māori
After many years away building his professional career, Logan Bertram (Whakatōhea), returned home to Ōpōtiki with a clear goal of reconnecting with his whakapapa and creating a better future for his young whānau.
