title: Mā mahi, ka ora: by work, we prosper--traditional healers and workforce development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Rongoā Māori practitioners make a valuable contribution towards Māori health outcomes, albeit with limited resourcing or formal training. This paper reports on a survey of healers/healing practices-specifically healers' aspirations for professional development and training-and considers the implications for healing practice and future training undertakings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healers in seven districts around the country were surveyed about rongoā practice and service delivery during 2013. Consenting healers completed surveys either in person, via phone, or returned them via post, according to their preference and convenience. Resulting data were analysed and reported according to frequency of responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight healers/rongoā clinics completed the survey--a 79% response rate. Respondents were primarily Māori (88%), female (69%), aged 50 years or older (60%), and worked as volunteers. Informal training modes focused on te reo, mātauranga and tikanga were the most common means of skill/ knowledge acquisition, and preferred modes for further training.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey highlights the pressing need for expansion of the rongoā Māori workforce and training/service funding, to sustain rongoā practice. The findings add to what little is known about the training pathways and aspirations of practising healers, identified targets of the Māori Health Workforce Development Plan 2006.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. annabel.ahuriri-driscoll@canterbury.ac.nz.
authors.forename: Annabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahuriri-Driscoll
authors.forename: Amohia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boulton
authors.forename: Albie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Potaka-Osborne
authors.forename: Maui
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hudson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005260:Female; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010865:Pilot Projects; D026443:Spiritual Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult