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The Caves of Hinengaro, Goddess of the Mind

Tracks
Ballroom 1
Ballroom 2
Tamborine Gallery
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM
JW Grand Ballroom

Overview

Dr Hinemoa Elder, FRANZCP, PhD, MNZM. Kaiārahi Oranga Hinengaro. Te Hiku Hauora. Kaitāia


Speaker

Agenda Item Image
Dr Hinemoa Elder FRANZCP, PhD, MNZM
Kaiārahi Oranga Hinengaro. Te Hiku Hauora. Kaitāia

The Caves of Hinengaro, Goddess of the Mind

Abstract

Coming from an area named after a female ancestor, Muriwhenua, provides an ongoing source of inspiration and resource to expand the understanding of the developmental experiences of wāhine, women, across the life span.

Exploring local Māori knowledge about Hinengaro, our deity of Mind, we travel through 23 caves, spiralling deep within Papatūānuku, our earth mother. This curated path, or ara, articulated by our wheinga, our ancestors reveals new ways of thinking about thinking. We unlock previously unrealised potential and choices to discover a sense of resourcefulness and ease in our world of uncertainty and terrifying extremes.

This approach invites wāhine of all cultures to explore their own personal journeys which ignite new perspectives, hope and resources for helping to solve our complex modern problems.

Biography

Dr Hinemoa Elder, Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Takoto and Ngāpuhi nui tonu, is a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist of 20 years and Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Psychiatrists. Hinemoa was awarded the MNZM, New Zealand Order of Merit for services to Psychiatry and to Māori in 2019, she is a member of the NZ Human Rights Review Tribunal, she is the Kaiārahi Oranga Hinengaro at Te Hiku Hauora and a best selling author. Hinemoa is a Rockefeller Foundation, Bellagio Resident Alumni, a member of the Busara Circle, for the Homeward Bound Project, and Patron of Brainwave Trust.
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