Imagine a journey through a spiral staircase, descending into the depths and then ascending back to the surface, each step bringing new clarity and purpose. This double-spiral journey provides deeper awareness and encourages us to ask more probing questions about our lives. Dr Hinemoa Elder’s new book, Ara: A Māori Guidebook of the Mind, is a quest through the caves of hinengaro and a resource for anyone seeking comfort and ease amid the chaos of life. In the pukapuka, she leads us through 23 rua (caves)/chapters, offering a pathway to gather insights, face challenges and help us navigate the complexities of our minds. Chaired by Annie Fay.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Hinemoa Elder is of Te Aupōuri, Ngāti Kurī, Te Rarawa, Ngāi Takoto and Ngāpuhi nui tonu and is the mother of two adult children. Hinemoa is the Kaiārahi Oranga Hinengaro at Te Hiku Hauora, Muriwhenua. She also provides youth forensic court reports and neuropsychiatric assessment and treatment for tamariki mokopuna experiencing complexities in their recovery from traumatic brain injury. She is a deputy psychiatry member of the New Zealand Mental Health Review Tribunal. In 2019, she was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to psychiatry and Māori. Hinemoa has lived on Te Motu Ārai Roa, Waiheke Island for more than 25 years, and is the author of New Zealand’s best-selling local non-fiction book of 2021, Aroha – Māori Wisdom for a Contented Life Lived in Harmony with Our Planet.You can also find her on Instagram and TikTok @drhinemoa.