Introduction – The Issues and Problems Faced in the Community
Across Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori communities continue to experience disproportionate levels of stress, depression, and suicide compared to non-Māori populations. These disparities reflect the deep wounds of colonization, which disrupted traditional systems of balance, wellbeing, and cultural identity. The suppression of Māori healing practices, most notably through the Tohunga Suppression Act of 1907, further separated communities from knowledge that once maintained both collective and individual health.

Generations later, these impacts remain visible in intergenerational trauma, loss of identity, and disconnection from ancestral knowledge. Western models of mental health care, while beneficial in many ways, often focus on symptom management rather than addressing the holistic needs of body, mind, and spirit. This approach fails to fully recognize the cultural and spiritual dimensions essential to Indigenous wellbeing.

Solutions Required and How the Model Addresses These Issues
Healing must begin by restoring connection to self, community, and the land. Rongomamau offers a culturally grounded response. As a traditional Māori martial and wellbeing art, it weaves together physical discipline, breathwork, ritual, and ethical practice to cultivate calm, confidence, and dignity.

Rather than separating mental, emotional, and spiritual health, Rongomamau teaches that wellbeing arises from balance and reciprocity. It provides a framework for emotional regulation, resilience, and relational integrity, skills that are urgently needed in modern times.

Through wānanga (learning gatherings), Umutakarangi Timoti Pahi creates safe spaces for participants to reconnect with their whakapapa (ancestry) and rediscover tools for healing that are both ancient and practical. This integration of traditional knowledge and contemporary relevance allows people to heal not just as individuals but as part of a larger collective story.

Historical Practice and Its Relevance Today
Rongomamau has survived generations of suppression through the dedication of Māori elders who refused to let the art die. Once taught widely in Māori schools, it served as both physical training and a moral compass grounded in the principles of sacred reciprocity: respect, balance, and humility.

When colonization outlawed Indigenous healing, Rongomamau was carried forward in secret. The late Papa Delamere preserved its teachings with integrity and passed them on to Umutakarangi Timoti Pahi after recognizing his commitment to uphold its sacred purpose. Today, Pahi stands as the last living guardian of this lineage.

In a modern world marked by burnout, anxiety, and social fragmentation, the teachings of Rongomamau are profoundly relevant. Its emphasis on breath, presence, and ethical alignment mirrors contemporary findings in mindfulness, trauma recovery, and somatic healing, offering a bridge between Indigenous wisdom and modern therapeutic practice.

Research, Outcomes, and Evidence of Impact
Participants in Rongomamau wānanga consistently report enhanced resilience, emotional balance, and a renewed sense of belonging. Many describe improved focus, self-esteem, and interpersonal connection following their engagement with the practice.

These outcomes align with international research confirming that culturally grounded healing models significantly improve wellbeing among Indigenous and marginalized populations. Studies by the World Health Organization and Māori health scholars such as Sir Mason Durie demonstrate that reconnecting to culture and identity strengthens mental health outcomes, reduces depression, and enhances long-term resilience.

Rongomamau’s continued practice exemplifies these findings and demonstrates that restoring Indigenous frameworks of healing benefits not only Māori communities but also offers valuable insights for global mental health approaches.