Hospice West Auckland, in partnership with CHT St Margarets, have developed a Rongoa Garden at Hospice House in Te Atatu for patients, whanau and the wider West Auckland community. The garden contains a wide range of New Zealand native flora, herbs and other edibles, and a cleansing water feature. It is a space where people from all walks of life can come to rest and reflect, reconnect with Papatuânuku and feel culturally, physically, spiritually and emotionally strengthened.
View of the garden
Rongoâ Mâori - traditional Mâori healing - is one of the many holistic support services that Hospice West Auckland offers to patients and whânau. The garden will provide opportunities for education about Te Ao Mâori and Rongoâ Mâori practices, as well as the ability for Hospice’s Rongoâ Mâori Practitioner to grow and harvest rongoârâkau (native plants).
The garden has been in planning and development for over a year and was officially opened to the public during the Matariki period on Wednesday 3rd July at 52 Beach Road, Te Atatû Peninsula. It was made possible thanks to the generosity of many sponsors, supporters and volunteers.
The Hospice West Auckland Rongoa Garden Working Group – from left: Esther Bushell, Lettie Bright, Linda Peck, Stephanie Muncaster, Cheryl Frost, Trish Fleming, Helen Harrison, Deb Robson, Zain Ali
