"Ko wai Pungaerere or E as my family call me. 

My mother tells me as soon as I could walk, I was following behind my father helping him to plant seeds and I always preferred to be outside no matter what the weather was like.  My first memories are of exploring in the native bush and feeling the warmth of papatuanuku awakening in the morning dew.  We lived mostly off the grind during my formative years, I spent most of my time outside with nature, exploring, river swimming, foraging, fishing, observing the rhythm of the tides and nature, sleeping under the open night skies wishing on falling stars with my brother.  I had a natural attraction and curiosity with the sciences of nature and a powerful pull with my connection of Māori mohiotanga in particular with Rongoā.  

Both my parents are Māori.  My father is from the West Coast and my mother is from the East Coast of Aotearoa New Zealand.  I fondly remember my koro, he was tall and handsome.  He would carry me on his shoulders when I was a little girl.  He had a voice of a tui and he only ever spoke te reo, his turangawaewae is  Mahia, Tairawhiti.  I am named after my fathers side of his tipuna. 

My indigenous name Pungaērērē comes from a stream that miri miri’s the whenua before entering the moana.  I remember my Kuia Rautini being incredibly fit and healthy.  She had a stillness of wisdom that could only have been felt in her presence.  Her turangawaewae is Rahotu, Taranaki.  I have been shaped by my grandparents, parents and my connection and understanding of our natural environment that helps us heal. 

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