Meet Maria
Certified Coach, Educator and
Mātanga Mahi Wairua
Educating & Coaching
Maria has spent 25+ years in leadership roles offering adult education for both corporate and public service environments; as well in private practice (2008). The professional and personal growth of adults has been central to her work. As a skilled facilitator and life coach clients have been able to experience important and transformational shifts.
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Certified mBIT Coach: Multiple Brain Integration Techniques
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Certified Coach: International Association of Coaching Institutes
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Certified Time Line Therapy (TM) Practitioner
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Certified Eriksonian Hypnotherapy
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Certified Trainer & Master Practitioner: Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP)
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Certified Transforming Communication Instructor
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Certified Trainer & Facilitator
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Project management, process management, return on investment, leadership and several other business certifications.
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IGNITE 80 Peak Performance
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Oxford Women's Leadership. Saiid Business School, Oxford Uni.
Maria is Co-Founder of Wheelhouse Education & Learning providing professional development programmes for health professionals.
Mātanga Mahi Wairua
Descended from Māori, Hawaiian and Celtic origins Maria has enjoyed the discovery of her whakapapa and ancestry. She greatly acknowledges her tupuna and ancestors and the world views they offer her.
Maria's kuia Ngarongo Haimona was matakite and gifted in karakia. The threads of matakite, and rongoā weave to many of her descendants. Maria recalls her own earliest experience with wairua as a pre-schooler, though it wasn't until her mid-20's that she acknowledged these qualities. She began a quiet lifelong walk to keep listening; collecting knowledge, and applying to work, private practice and life.
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Mātanga Mahi Wairua: Tutored for 4-years by respected Tohunga Wiremu Niania and wife Lesley. Co-Author of the book, Collaborative and Indigenous Mental Health Therapy - Tataihono Stories of Māori Healing and Psychiatry.
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Maramataka: Teachings with Rikki Soloman
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Romiromi and Mirimiri: Traditional bodywork.
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Zhi Neng Qi Gong practitioner: Chi Lei Chi Kung Levels 1 & 2.
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Healing light of the TAO: Master Mantak Chia's Universal Tao.
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Shamanic journeying of Hopi’sinom (the Hopi people).
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Huna Healing: Ho'omana ancient Hawaiian healing.
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Meditating with spirit guides: Mentored for 5 years with Rose Goodliffe. Masters of Social Practice including research on her practice as a trained counselor and gifted medium.
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Massage Therapy: New Zealand School of Massage
Maria is currently a student of He Waka Hiringa: Master of Applied Indigenous Knowledge. Wairuatanga and matakite is her research and practice topic.
"I am always astounded, and yet equally, never surprised at the value indigenous ways of healing can have in helping people improve their wellness, their lives or their situations. It comes with the greatest of gratitude." - Maria.
A note from Maria:
Self-leadership and mauri ora
"There are many roads we travel with stories of significance impacting lives. For some these stories are about effort, optimistic thinking, self-determination and being capable. For others the experiences are about resilience, overcoming illness, facing traumas or living with mental health. Perhaps dealing with the grief of a deceased loved one, or the loss of cultural heritage and identity. The effect of domestic violence or sexual abuse too. Even experiences of financial hardship, family conditions, or simply being in a relationship that no longer serves them.
Having seen many people experience insight, growth, and healing over the years reminds me how much inner strength and potential people have to navigate towards what matters most in life. Even in times when feeling the most challenged and restricted in choice. It reminds me always to never confine a person to a certain shape, or we may never see them truly shine.
Right now our personal vitality, leadership of self and support of others is more important than ever. When we listen deeply into ourselves, and discover we need or desire change, that is an important recognition it is time to pivot in another direction. To improve one's situation. Wairua o te tangata always knows if we are living in alignment. "
Working intuitively
"Whakapūawai Ora is a practice centred on people first flourishing inwardly, in order to flourish outwardly in areas of life. With my feet planted firmly on the earth, a connected heart, a deeply guided wairua, a critical thinking brain, and a strongly sensed direction, I am here to support your next steps. As a practitioner I utilise the indigenous wisdoms, practices and research from eastern mind and body practices, western knowledge and indigenous healing traditions when working alongside you.
Please feel free to look around the site and reach out when you're ready to make contact.
With gratitude, Maria."
"It has been a privilege to learn Rongoā Māori (healing) along with healing traditions of other cultures. Each requires a deep respect and understanding that comes with both gentleness and assertion." - Maria.