Ata-Rangi Muru

Atarangi was raised in the small coastal village of Ahipara and is affiliated to Muriwhenua, the 5 tribes of the topmost northern region of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Her tribes are Ngati Kuri, Te Aupouri on her father's side, and Te Rarawa, Ngati Pakahi on her mother's side. Atarangi's name translates to 'The Realisation of One's Visions' (Naida Pou attributed to the korero of Atarangi's name from her understanding of the old Maaori language). Atarangi's name was gifted by the Heihei whanau of Te Tii. Her parents were told, that if she were given a pet name, the Heihei Whanau, Judah Heihei, would claim the name back to his whanau. Atarangi's passions include Self Healing - when growing up, self-healing was in every home. The parents and elders would instruct a child how to walk on them (trample the body). A foot placed on the shoulders in a certain way, a big toe dug in around the lower back, the flat of the heel, or cut of the blade (side of the foot) all had a place. Kawa Ariki - the ancestral arts of the feminine body and the exercises that go with growing young women who are strong physically, supple in their movements, aware of the inner work of the organs and particularly the links to her womb, haputanga (pregnancy), Iikura (monthly cycle), use of the Moon and more. There are workshops for the young to teach them to 'ripen' their bodies using specific exercises and movements. There are workshops for the older teen to ensure her knowledge of her body and her 'flower' / virginity were known to be sacred and kept for as long as possible for her energetic knowledge of the self. The adult woman had her teachings and the Kuia / Crone / Matriarch had her teachings. Atarang's passion for the healing arts was ignited by her elders, where her training began at an early age, as it did for many of those times. And the healing was also in their home with her Dad's knowledge of midwifery, he being the assistant to his father at various births in their local village of Te Hapua, and having knowledge of wai raakaau or plant medicine. Teaching these principles has become a legacy for her, first sharing it with her own family so that it continues, is a must. Atarangi acknowledges her teachers, Aunty Bella Nathan, Aunty Heni Phillips, Whaea Makere Tino, Whaea Skipper, Makuini Ruth Tai, Hohepa Delamere (Papa Joe), Manu Korewha.