Tīwaiwaka: A Movement to Heal Our Relationship with Nature (with Rob McGowan/Pā Ropata)

Written By Callum Armstrong

(Note: you can also listen to this episode on YouTube or Spotify)

What if we viewed Earth not as a resource to be managed, but as our home to be cherished? 

In this profound conversation, Rob McGowan (Pā Ropata), leader of the Tīwaiwaka movement and respected rongoā practitioner, reveals a transformative set of enduring principles for healing our relationship with Papatūānuku (mother earth).

Rob challenges conventional thinking about environmental action, revealing how small, mindful changes in our daily lives can collectively reshape the way we interact with nature. By shifting from a "me" to a "we" worldview, we can create a future where both people and planet thrive together.

This episode illuminates a pathway forward that's grounded in hope, respect for life at all scales, and the understanding that true wellbeing emerges from healing our connections - with each other and with the natural world.

“Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata” - when the land is well, the people are well.

Tīwaiwaka is based on these 6 core principles, which we discussed in depth during the podcast:

  1. Te Whenua, Papatūānuku, is the source of all life. She is the mother: Caring for the whenua is the first priority. Everything else must be measured against this.

  2. We are not the centre of the Universe but we are part of it: All living creatures are our brothers and sisters, and we are the potiki, the last born. We must care for them.

  3. The mauri is the web of connections that sustains life: If any of those connections are weakened or broken, the mauri is less able to sustain life. The integrity of the mauri has greater priority than any individual or species.

  4. Te tangata, people, are not the masters of the mauri; we are part of the mauri and embraced by it: Our role is to care for the mauri.

  5. No individual person is more important than any other: Each must contribute what they have to offer and receive what they need to be well.

  6. We give special care to the tiniest living creatures: Even though they are too small to be seen they are the foundation that keeps and sustains all life. Caring for them is caring for the mauri. This is the source of wellness, of sustainability.


👩 About Rob:

Rob McGowan (Pā Ropata) is a respected rongoā practitioner and leader of the Tīwaiwaka movement who has dedicated decades to understanding and sharing native plant knowledge and conservation principles. Through his work with kaumatua and kuia on the Whanganui River, he gained deep insights into traditional Māori knowledge and its relevance for modern conservation challenges.

A recipient of the Queen's Service Medal and the Loder Cup Award, Pā is a co-founder of Tane's Tree Trust, former chair of the Bay of Plenty Conservation Board, and advisor to numerous government agencies, Māori tribal authorities, and rongoā Māori related initiatives. To this day, he continues to teach, speak, and advocate for approaches to conservation that honour both traditional knowledge and modern science.

🔗Learn more:

🎙️About the podcast:

The People Helping Nature podcast is brought to you by Conservation Amplified, a registered New Zealand charity that’s on a mission to make biodiversity conservation mainstream.

We do this by bringing a megaphone to the world of conservation by featuring people from all walks of life who are doing interesting and important things to help nature thrive. We aim to make it easy for everyone to learn, understand, take action, and feel like they’re a part of the solution.

Find out more about Conservation Amplified at www.conservationamplified.org.

🔗Connect with us:

Callum Armstrong
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