Te Ati Awa, Taranaki, Ngati Raukawa

Pounamu comes from a long line of gardeners, she vividly remembers as a child playing in her nana's big maara in Motunui just north of Waitara, eating fresh peas and smelling the colourful flowers.

Pounamu believes in living closely to Papatūānuku through her passion for growing healthy Hua Parakore Kai for her whanau, community and also appreciates the maara as it helps to soothe the hinengaro and Wairua.

After 27 years of being a mirimiri practitioner Pounamu has switched to gardening and mirimiri of papatūānuku, from her deep connection with the whenua she saids

"The maara is a place of transformation place for healing"

If you've ever tuned into listening to one of Pounamu speaking events to Pounamu you will resonateand bathe in her wisdom and matauranga as she sows seeds of hope, freedom, and empowerment within her community.