Rongoā

{{short description|Traditional Māori medicinal practices}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=October 2024}}

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{{lang|mi|Rongoā}} (or Rongoā Māori) refers to the traditional Māori medicinal practices in New Zealand.{{Cite encyclopedia | vauthors = Jones R | date = 24 September 2007 |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/rongoa-medicinal-use-of-plants/print|title=Rongoā – medicinal use of plants| encyclopedia = Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand | via = teara.govt.nz}} Rongoā was one of the Māori cultural practices targeted by the Tohunga Suppression Act 1907,{{cite journal | author = General Assembly of New Zealand | title = AN ACT to suppress Tohungas | date = 24 September 1907 | pages = 26–27 | issue = 13 | journal = J Tohunga Suppression | url = http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/tsa19077ev1907n13353.pdf}} until lifted by the Maori Welfare Act 1962.{{cite web | author = General Assembly of New Zealand | title = Maori Welfare Act 1962 | issue = 133 | pages = 892–914 | date = 14 December 1962 | url = http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/mwa19621962n133162.pdf }} In the later part of the 20th century there was renewed interest in Rongoā as part of a broader Māori renaissance.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/07/traditional-m-ori-medicine-rongo-m-ori-making-a-comeback-after-being-banned.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705105850/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2019/07/traditional-m-ori-medicine-rongo-m-ori-making-a-comeback-after-being-banned.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 July 2019 | vauthors = Molyneux V | date = 7 May 2019 | title = Traditional Māori medicine Rongoā Māori making a comeback after being banned |newspaper=Newshub |via=www.newshub.co.nz}}

Rongoā can involve spiritual, herbal and physical components. Herbal aspects used plants such as harakeke, kawakawa, rātā, koromiko, kōwhai, kūmarahou, mānuka, tētēaweka and rimu.{{cite book | vauthors = Williams PM | title = Te Rongoa Māori Medicine | publisher = Reed | location = Auckland, N.Z. | date = 1996 | isbn = 978-0-14-301136-1 }}{{cite book | vauthors = Riley M, Enting B | title = Māori Healing And Herbal | publisher = Viking Sevenseas | location = Paraparaumu, N.Z. | date = 1994 | isbn = 978-0-85467-095-6 }}{{cite book | vauthors = Ofsoske-Wyber F | title = The Sacred Plant Medicine of Aotearoa | publisher = Vanterra House Publishing | location = Auckland | date = 2019 | isbn = 978-0-473-49699-9 }}

The practice of Rongoā is only regulated by the Therapeutics Products Bill in the case of commercial or wholesale production so that "Māori will continue using and making rongoā just as they have for generations."{{cite web|url=https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/therapeutic-products-regulatory-regime/rongoa-and-therapeutic-products-bill|title=Rongoā and the Therapeutic Products Act | work = Manatū Hauora - Ministry of Health | publisher = New Zealand Government |date=14 June 2023}}