Bring rongoā into the classroom with a hands-on twist! Instead of simply matching ailments to remedies, students can explore the cultural roots of Māori healing by making their own kawakawa balm. Chemistry teacher Monique Goodson turned a simple idea into an engaging science project—infusing kawakawa leaves in olive oil, blending in beeswax and shea butter, and decorating jars to take home. Along the way, students learned about tikanga, the science behind natural compounds like myristicin, and the connection between chemistry and traditional Māori medicine.
