Bianca Fallon, a New Zealand-based hair and make-up artist, is integrating traditional Māori healing into her business to help clients cope with mental health issues. With more than 25 years of experience, Fallon has a master’s degree in Applied Indigenous Knowledge and has seen a significant need for Rongoā Māori, a form of traditional Māori healing, in her line of work.
Fallon’s clients often come to her seeking hair and makeup services, but during lockdowns, many opened up to her about their mental health issues. Fallon uses mineral cosmetics, karakia, sound vibrations, and cleansing rituals to help shift a client’s mauri, or life force or essence, and promote balance and wellbeing.
In 2022, the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) began offering Rongoā Māori services to all injured New Zealanders to help them rehabilitate from a covered injury. Fallon is one of 133 registered Rongoā Māori practitioners in Aotearoa and one of the 18 registered in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland where she now lives.
With Te Aka Whai Ora (Māori Health Authority) and the Ministry of Health both working on strategies to support and encourage Rongoā Māori in New Zealand, Fallon believes policymakers should understand the reasons behind traditional Māori thinking to help everyone feel safe. Meanwhile, Toi Mai Workforce Development Council has asked Fallon to join its hair and make-up advisory board in a bi-cultural effort to explain to policymakers the Māori perspective on the subject.
There are currently no qualification requirements for Rongoā Māori practitioners, but they must follow the Health and Disability Services Consumers Rights code. For those seeking an ACC-accredited Rongoā Māori practitioner, they can visit www.acc.co.nz.
