Maternal Birth Injuries - rongoā Māori ACC Funded

Hōkioi offers ACC-registered rongoā Māori support for māmā and birthing parents experiencing maternal birth injuries sustained during labour or delivery (on or after 1 October 2022). Our practice aligns closely with the kaupapa and values upheld by Ngā Māia Māori Midwives, recognising birth as a whakapapa event and healing as a collective, whānau-centred process.

Grounded in Te Whare Tapa Whā and informed by Te Wheke, our rongoā Māori approach supports recovery across tinana (physical impacts such as tearing, prolapse, pelvic pain), hinengaro (birth trauma, emotional overwhelm, loss of confidence), wairua (disconnection, whakamā, or spiritual distress), and whānau (role transitions, bonding with pēpi, and support systems). We acknowledge that maternal birth injuries can be underreported or minimised, particularly for wāhine Māori, and we provide culturally safe spaces where māmā are seen, heard, and upheld in their mana.

Our services include mirimiri (traditional bodywork) to support physical recovery and reconnection with the body; whitiwhiti kōrero to hold space for kōrero tuku iho, emotional processing, and reassurance; karakia to restore balance and support wairua; and wānanga where appropriate to strengthen understanding, confidence, and whānau resilience. Rongoā Māori works alongside midwifery care and other ACC-funded services, offering a complementary pathway that reflects mātauranga Māori and lived Māori realities.

We welcome referrals from Māori midwives and work collaboratively to ensure continuity of care for māmā and whānau. Eligible clients with an accepted ACC maternal birth injury claim may access rongoā Māori as part of their recovery journey. 

Further information on ACC maternal birth injury cover is available at https://www.acc.co.nz/im-injured/what-we-cover/cover-for-maternal-birth-injuries

After giving birth, some māmā experience injuries that can affect the body, emotions, and overall wellbeing. At Hōkioi, our rongoā Māori practitioners offer gentle, holistic support for māmā and birthing parents recovering from birth injuries such as tearing, prolapse, pain, or trauma.

Rongoā Māori looks at the whole person — tinana (body), hinengaro (mind), wairua (spirit), and whānau — helping māmā feel supported, heard, and cared for during the postnatal period. Our sessions may include mirimiri (traditional bodywork) to ease pain and tension, kōrero to talk things through, karakia for balance and grounding, and support that strengthens confidence and connection with pēpi.

If your birth injury happened during labour or delivery on or after 1 October 2022, ACC may be able to help cover your care. You can choose rongoā Māori as part of your healing journey. 

Talk with your midwife, GP, or health provider, or learn more at https://www.acc.co.nz/im-injured/what-we-cover/cover-for-maternal-birth-injuries