When we think of rongoā, we often turn to the ngāhere, moana, awa, maunga, and whenua—our traditional sources of healing. But our tūpuna also adorned themselves in taonga: cloaks, kākahu, and accessories crafted from their surroundings, symbolising whakapapa, the maramataka, life transitions, and identity. These adornments were not just beautiful—they were resourcing, grounding, and protective.
Colonisation disrupted our relationship with adornment. The way we dress, express, and see ourselves shifted. In this presentation, we invite participants into a personal and collective journey of rediscovery through the rongoā of kākahu—specifically preloved and secondhand clothing. Emerging from Te Kore, the deep place of grief and nothingness, we found healing and reconnection through kākahu. It became a reclamation of self, of identity, and of mauri.
Through Serving Up T, we’ve shared this healing with wāhine Māori and Pasifika across Aotearoa via workshops, community and marae-based fashion parades, and collaborations with grassroots charities. Together, we raise awareness of the environmental impact of fast fashion on te taiao while celebrating the beauty of secondhand garments.
This is more than clothing—it’s a form of rongoā that restores confidence, self-image, and mana. It reignites ihi and wehi, empowering wāhine to be seen, to stand tall in their beauty, and to reconnect with wairua.
In re-sourcing wāhine, we are re-sourcing whānau and hāpori. Kākahu becomes a portal: to wellbeing, to identity, and to a more sustainable and culturally grounded future.
This presentation explores kākahu (clothing) as a form of rongoā—a pathway to healing, identity, and reconnection.

Three Key Learnings:
1. Kākahu as Rongoā: Preloved and secondhand garments can act as powerful forms of rongoā, supporting healing, identity reclamation, and cultural connection—particularly for wāhine Māori and Pasifika navigating grief, loss, or disconnection.

2. Adornment as Empowerment: Dressing and adorning ourselves with intention can reignite ihi, wehi, and mana. It enhances self-image, builds confidence, and restores a sense of belonging and pride in one’s cultural and personal identity.

3. Sustainable Style as Collective Wellbeing: Through conscious styling and fashion practices rooted in tikanga and care for Papatūānuku, we can uplift not only individual wellbeing, but also re-source whānau, hāpori, and our relationship with te taiao.