Heeni's healing journey: 'I PUT FAITH IN MY ANCESTORS'

She's using all her traditional skills to beat her diagnosis

- Kasia Jillings

When Heeni Hoterene was diagnosed with stage four terminal cancer, she had a choice to make – accept the diagnosis or fight it to the end using her knowledge as a maramataka expert to map out her healing. Maramataka refers to the Māori lunar calendar and the practise of planning accordinginly.

Heeni is one of Aotearoa’s most renowned and respected experts, sharing wisdom daily with her more than 70,000 followers online.

“When I was diagnosed two years ago, I knew I was sick,” recalls Heeni, 49. “My stomach had swelled right up and I was having heavy bleeding. I fainted twice and my children had to ring for an ambulance in the middle of the night.

“But it was still quite a shock to be diagnosed with terminal cancer. It started in my uterus and spread to my lymph nodes, stomach and spine.”

The Northland mother-of-four clearly remembers those first nights, worrying about her tamariki, Karirikura, 14, Otane, 13, Keteriki, 11, and Oenuku, six, and what was to come.

“I could feel the walls closing in. It was very scary, terrifying and I didn’t know what to do. The second night it happened again, but I decided, ‘I’m not going to live in this fear.’”

In that moment, Heeni reminded herself of the things she believed in – being Māori and maramataka.