Rongoā Māori and the Lasting Impact of Suppression

TE AO MĀORI | ISSUE FOUR/20 | RONGOĀ / DRUGS Written by Skye Lunson-Storey she/they/ia | Whakatōhea, Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tūwharetoa | @uku_rangi  | Arts, Culture, and Te Ao Māori Editor

Rongoā Māori, traditional Māori healing, is more than medicine. It is a holistic practice grounded in whakapapa, wairua, and a deep connection to te taiao. From native plant remedies to mirimiri and spiritual healing, rongoā has long been central to Māori wellbeing. Today, it continues to be practised in wānanga and some health clinics, and is increasingly recognised as a valid and valuable system of care.

But this wasn’t always the case.

In the early 20th century, the Tohunga Suppression Act 1907 (enforced from 1908) was introduced, dramatically disrupting rongoā Māori. The Act was passed under the leadership of Māori politician James Carroll, with support from figures like Apirana Ngata. At the time, Māori health was in serious decline, and many leaders believed adopting European medical practices would improve outcomes. The Act aimed to stop “harmful” or misleading practices by tohunga, but in reality, it cast a much wider net. Its clauses made it illegal for anyone deemed to be misleading Māori through spiritual or traditional healing, punishable by fines or imprisonment. While it claimed to protect communities, it effectively suppressed legitimate cultural knowledge and practices.

The law has also been linked to efforts to control influential Māori leaders, such as the prophet, healer, and land activist Rua Kēnana of Maungapōhatu. Although few Māori were actually prosecuted under the Act (notably, two Pākehā were charged), its real power lay in fear. Tohunga were discouraged from practising, and many went underground. 

The consequences were significant and long-lasting. With tohunga unable to openly share their knowledge, generations missed out on learning rongoā practices, such as identifying medicinal plants or understanding spiritual healing. Some experts died without passing on their mātauranga. Over time, Māori communities were pushed toward Western medicine, and cultural confidence in traditional healing declined.

Although the Act was repealed in 1962, thanks to advocacy from groups like the Māori Women's Welfare League, the damage had already been done. Efforts to restore rongoā gained momentum later, including the establishment of the National Organisation of Māori Traditional Practitioners in 1993, and the Ministry of Health publishing standards for traditional healing in 1999. 

Today, rongoā Māori is experiencing a powerful revitalisation. Many practitioners continue to serve their iwi and hapū without the need for formal certification, recognised instead by their communities. It's important to remember that healing is not just about medicine; it can be found in the ngahere among the children of Tāne Mahuta, or by listening to the moana. Practices like rongoā rākau and the revival of taonga pūoro highlight the deep interconnection between people and the environment.

So why should we care?

Because rongoā Māori represents resilience, identity, and a different way of understanding health, one that is urgently relevant today. The suppression of rongoā wasn’t just about medicine; it was about silencing a worldview. Protecting it now means supporting Māori-led initiatives, respecting tikanga, and ensuring this mātauranga is passed on to our mokopuna.

The story of the Tohunga Suppression Act is not just history; it’s a reminder of what can be lost when knowledge is suppressed and what can be regained when it is reclaimed.