About Pā / Rob McGowan

Tīwaiwaka was first put to paper by Rob McGowan, (known as Pā Ropata to many) a prominent Rongoā Māori practitioner, well respected for his work in the restoration of Rongoā Māori practise and traditional knowledge of native plants and medicines in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Pā became interested in the New Zealand bush at a young age after watching his mother use traditional plants and herbs for health and wellbeing, based on traditional knowledge brought to New Zealand from her homeland of Dalmatia. In the 1970s he was posted as a Catholic Priest to Whanganui and it was there, on the river, under the guidance of prominent Kaumatua and Kuia, that he started to gain the knowledge he is known for today, propagating and growing native plants and their traditional uses.

An alumnus of the University of Waikato, Pā graduated with a Bachelor of Education in 1996. He followed this with a Master of Social Sciences in 2000.

In 1999 he co-founded Tane’s Tree Trust alongside University of Waikato biologist Emeritus Professor Warwick Silvester. This Trust encourages the use of New Zealand indigenous tree species for biodiversity, landscape enhancement and cultural benefits.

Since 2006 Pā has also been involved with Ngā Whenua Rāhui, a Te Papa Atawhai Department of Conservation funding programme that aims to support the protection of Māori land and indigenous ecosystems and to preserve Mātauranga Māori.

Pā is a long-time member and former chair of the Bay of Plenty Conservation Board, a founding chair of the Kaimai-Mamaku Catchments Forum and now Patron of the Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust, and a life member of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists.

Pā has championed Tīwaiwaka, the six principles of which create a philosophy for our approach to life and restoration of our natural world. At his home on the outskirts of Tauranga he has planted a rongoā garden to help students learn plant identification, and he and his wife Lyndel run a small nursery for the Waitao Landcare Group. 

Pā has become a sought-after Rongoā Māori practitioner and advisor. He was an expert witness to the Wai 262 Claim, and since the publication of the Waitangi Tribunal’s Report, he has been involved in its implementation. He continues to work as an advisor to numerous Government agencies, Māori tribal authorities and for a number of rongoā Māori related research, policy, strategy and education initiatives.

Pā has written two books on land regeneration, with one of them, Rongoā Māori: a Practical Guide to Traditional Māori Medicine, selling more than 10,000 copies.

Pā is decorated in his field, and his honours include a Queen’s Service Medal, a University of Waikato Medal and the Te Papa Atawhai (DOC) Loder Cup Award.

He has been holding regular rongoā wānanga since 1991 around the country with many different iwi. He teaches alongside leading Rongoā practitioner Donna Kerridge through www.titokieducation.co.nz

Most of the information on this website has been provided by Pā either from new or existing publications.