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Story: Medicines and remedies

Medicinal properties of kōkōmuka (koromiko)

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Hōhepa Kereopa, a tohunga (healer) of the Ngāi Tūhoe tribe, explains how the leaves of the native tree kōkōmuka (also known as koromiko) are used to treat constipation.

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How to cite this page

Pauline Norris and Rosemary Beresford, Medicines and remedies – Plants, pills and poultices before 1900, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/28215/medicinal-properties-of-kokomuka-koromiko (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Pauline Norris and Rosemary Beresford, published 22 March 2011, updated 1 April 2020.