"The First teacher of Rongoā Māori is the ngahere, te Wao Nui a Tāne, the forest itself.
I remember well the answer I was given from koroua and kuia in Wanganui in response to my constant questions about the medicinal used of various plants.
"E Pa, why do you keep asking us about the plants. We don't have to tell you anything at all; all you have to do is get to know the forest and all the trees in the forest, and they will tell you everything you need to know."
It took me years to realize what they really meant by that, and even longer to really realize that it was the key to learning the Rongoā. The trees really do tell you what you need to know, once you start to look to them to learn."
- Pa Ropata / Rob McGowan
