Whakapakari Ora

Lisa Harding (Ngāti Hako, Maniapoto, Ngāi Tahu) and Kandace Smiler (Te Āitanga-a-Māhaki, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Paoa) are the founders and practitioners behind Whakapakari Ora, a Māori-owned hauora (well-being) practice grounded in the healing traditions of Rongoā Māori. Based in Te Waipounamu within the rohe (tribal area) of Ngāi Tahu, their mahi (work) is deeply connected to the whenua (land), whakapapa (genealogy), and the revitalisation of mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge). Together, Lisa and Kandace offer holistic healing experiences that nurture the physical, emotional, spiritual, and cultural well-being of individuals and whānau. Through practices such as mirimiri (traditional Māori bodywork), rongoā rākau (native plant medicine), whakawhiti kōrero (therapeutic conversation), karakia (prayer), and raranga (weaving), they create spaces for healing, reflection, and reconnection. Their work is guided by the understanding that true wellness comes from restoring balance between people, te taiao (the natural environment), and the wisdom carried through generations. Lisa Harding brings a calm and creative presence to Whakapakari Ora through her work as a kairongoā (traditional Māori healing practitioner) and kairaranga (weaving artist). Her passion for raranga reflects a deep respect for ancestral knowledge and the healing power of creativity. Lisa believes weaving is more than an art form, it is a practice of mindfulness, storytelling, and connection to the whenua. Through weaving workshops and healing spaces, she encourages people to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and experience the grounding nature of working with their hands and natural materials. Alongside Lisa, Kandace Smiler brings nearly a decade of experience in holistic wellness, health coaching, and Rongoā Māori. With a background in sport and recreation, epigenetics-informed health coaching, and traditional Māori healing practices, Kandace blends modern wellness approaches with indigenous healing wisdom. She specialises in mirimiri, whakawhiti kōrero, and holistic hauora support, with a particular passion for supporting wāhine (women) to reconnect with their bodies, cycles, strength, and sense of self. At the heart of Kandace’s mahi is the belief that healing is a journey of empowerment and self-determination. Through culturally grounded wellness practices, she supports people to move toward mauri ora (flourishing well-being) and deeper connection to themselves and their whakapapa. Together through Whakapakari Ora, Lisa and Kandace deliver mobile rongoā clinics, workshops, corporate wellness programmes, and community wānanga designed to support healing, education, and cultural connection. Their shared values of manaakitanga (care and respect), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) guide every aspect of their work. Through every healing session, woven piece, and shared kōrero, Lisa and Kandace continue to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and reconnected, to themselves, to culture, and to the healing wisdom of te ao Māori.