Kia ora, ko Ileya Baker ahau.

He uri ahau nō Tūhoe, nō Ngāti Kahungunu.

I am a qualified Rongoā Māori Practitioner and the founder of Te Kahu Rongoā, based in Te Tairāwhiti, Gisborne.

What drew me to Rongoā Māori?

My journey into Rongoā Māori began with a dream.

One night, I dreamt of a glowing, heart-shaped leaf. At the time, I had no understanding of what this dream meant or why this particular leaf had appeared to me. It was only in the years that followed that I would come to understand its significance, and the profound impact it would have on the direction of my life.

The leaf I dreamt of was kawakawa.

It came to me during a deeply painful period of grief following the loss of my children's father. At a time when my heart was carrying immense sorrow, this dream became something I would never forget.

Through the pūrākau and mātauranga shared with me, I came to understand the whakapapa of the kawakawa leaf through the story of Ranginui and Papatūānuku — of their separation and the profound grief held within that parting. Kawakawa was a gift from Io to Papatūānuku, offered to soothe and support her heart as she grieved for her beloved Ranginui.

I too, had been gifted with the same leaf.

The kawakawa that had appeared in my dream became a symbol of deeper connection, healing and purpose. What began as a mysterious dream would become a catalyst for my own journey and, ultimately, lead me towards Rongoā Māori.

A path of purpose

Over the years, in my journey of becoming, and years of experience in being a Rongoā Māori practicioner, I have had the privilege of working with many people from many different walks of life. Every person brings their own unique story, their own experiences and their own pathway towards wellbeing.

This is something I hold with great respect.

To walk alongside someone in this space is a privilege. To listen, to care, to share, and to create space for a person to reconnect with themselves is an honour I do not take lightly.

Honouring the path before me

It is an honour to walk in this space — to honour my whakapapa, my tūpuna, the knowledge carried before me, and those who have helped guide my journey.

Rongoā Māori is not simply a service I provide. It is a taonga connected to Mātauranga Māori, whakapapa, whenua, tikanga and generations of knowledge and practice.

I carry a deep sense of responsibility in the way I approach my mahi. I uphold the values and traditions that have shaped my understanding of Rongoā Māori.

My purpose is simple:

To serve.
To care.
To support and nurture wellbeing.
To honour the knowledge entrusted to me.

And above all, to create a space where people feel welcomed, safe, respected and supported as they move along their own journey towards Mauri Ora.

I am grateful that this is the path I have been called to walk — and that through Te Kahu Rongoā, I have the opportunity to be of service to our people, our whānau and our wider community.

He taonga te hauora.
He taonga te tangata.
He taonga te mātauranga.

It is an honour to serve.