Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Degree to include Maori healing

Updated at 8:13 pm on 19 July 2011

A Māori medical practice that was outlawed until 1962 is to become part of a degree course.

Rongoā Māori, or Maori healing, will be incorporated into the Bachelor of Natural Healing offered by South Pacific College of Natural Therapies in Auckland.

A recent Waitangi Tribunal report said the Crown is failing to recognise Māori traditional healing with the energy or urgency required by both the Treaty of Waitangi and the Māori health crisis.

South Pacific College's principal Glyn Lorrigan, says it took three years to get Māori healing included in the degree.

She says four out of the degree's 24 papers specialise in the Maori way, Maori medicines, and mirimiri, or massage.

The NZQA-accredited course will be offered from next February.

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