Helping People Live a Better Life

Peter Kitchen, Healer and Carver

By Richard Moore

Peter Kitchen is built like a burly rugby player, but actually is a gently-spoken healer and carver.

Peter’s calling is helping people through his business Rongoa Na Papatuanuku (Earth Mother Remedies).

He aims to take people on a spiritual journey so they understand who they are and why they are doing what they are doing.

“My job is to help our people when they are not well and understand what it is that is holding them back. 

“Ninety per cent of the time you don’t understand what you are doing in this world and it is my job to show you the right way that can help you feel well and know who you are.”

Peter says: “Cape Reinga is where our people depart when they die, my job is to make sure you stay here and enjoy this life and understand what it is for you. 

“I run Maori herbal cleansing classes and help in mental aspects of our world.”

And he also uses his physical strength to try to work stresses and problems out of your body.

I “volunteered” to undergo one of his massages and Peter very quickly worked out where my issues were and went to work on them.

He is bloody strong and dealt with my problem shoulder and neck in a matter of five minutes, explaining what he was doing and the essence behind his approach. 

I will definitely book another session with Peter on my return to the North.

Peter says good health is also about communicating with loved ones.

“There is also whanau ora - which is how as a family I tell you to throw your phone away and talk to your family. 

“Then you will have a life and they will understand you as you sit at the table and enjoy each other and converse. 

“And then, all of a sudden, the day’s problems have gone. You’re not sitting there with a machine. 

And Peter says being with nature is part of the process: “You will come out with me and I’ll take you out into the trees – to the beach – and share with you all the things you can eat in your path and in your back garden.

“You can heal your family with puha and kopakopa - just the simple plants siting in people’s gardens. When we do the balm making you can see how it is done – it is simple – and then you can go home and make it yourself.”

Peter also shows people the uses and making of oils and tinctures. 

“I can recommend things to work on. It is koha (donation) based so it doesn’t cost you a fortune and hopefully you’ll go away a happier person. That’s the ideal.”

Peter also has carvings that “are a bit spiritual”. 

He carves the shape of a leaf with a bug on them. “It shows we are connected to them, not them to us.”

“I’ve been doing it all my life. I’m 66 now. I grew up with it at Te Kao. 

“In the bush none of us spoke English. When we went to the creek for a swim, we didn’t need to go home because the food was there. We could catch eels and whitebait.” 

Peter believes: “The spiritual journey is not just about the church, but what other things can work when you try to understand what is happening.”

- Richard Moore

CONTACT:

Peter Kitchen,
Rongoa Na Papatuanuku (Earth Mother Remedies)
Peter@tall-tale.co.nz