Born in the 1960s, I grew up in Invercargill, South Island, New Zealand, as the youngest of three children. From an early age, I felt deeply connected to others’ emotions and developed a strong desire to help people.

Always eager for challenges, I joined the Air Force in my early 20s to leave Invercargill and explore the world. However, I soon realized I was too free-spirited for the structured life of the military.

In the early 1990s, I was blessed with a son. I traveled around the North Island before settling in Taranaki, where my passion for healing led me to pursue a Diploma in Naturopathy, followed by a Diploma in Herbal Medicine—fields I hold a deep passion for.

In Taranaki, I met and married my husband, who shares my love for native trees and helping others. Feeling drawn to the Far North of New Zealand, we moved there, where I became immersed in Māori culture. This experience deepened my understanding of holistic healing—addressing not just the physical body (tinana), but also the mind (hinengaro) and spirit (wairua).

My desire to share this knowledge inspired me to write this book. While this work focuses on Aotearoa’s native plants, there are many other plants, both from New Zealand and around the world that I hope to explore in future writings.