Maia Svadlenak-Gardiner

“I view wahine (woman) as the nurturers of the world. We embody love and care in unparalleled ways. This nurturing spirit is fundamental to our identity as women and is a testament to the profound impact we have on those around us.”

Maia is a passionate advocate in the health and wellness space, channeling her roots in holistic practices and traditional Māori perspectives to guide her. On her platform “Wellbeing with Maia”, she shares her expertise and insights to help others reframe their mindset around sustainable habits for mental, physical, and spiritual health. Her commitment to supporting others goes beyond the wellness field, as demonstrated by her work with the “Girls That Invest” podcast, where she has helped lead important conversations around financial literacy, money management, and investing for female audiences. This is Maia’s story.

What is your favourite thing about yourself?

M: My favourite thing about myself is my kindness and my positivity. And I'm very, very caring.

Tell us a story.

M: 2024 was a challenging year for me and while it was difficult, I came out of it with some valuable lessons. I realised how strong and resilient I am, though I didn’t need to go through a challenging year to know that, but it was nice to come out of adversity and be reminded of my strength, resilience and compassion. 

For those who are struggling know that you are stronger than you think.

Would you say it was those personal experiences that inspired you to launch “Wellbeing with Maia”? 

M: I was fortunate to be raised with a strong emphasis on holistic health practices. My mom, who's a bit of a free spirit, instilled in us the importance of alternative health approaches, alongside te Ao Māori perspective of well-being, which is holistic. Thus, from a young age, I’ve been exposed to a holistic view of well-being.

As I matured, my interest and passion for health and well-being grew, which drove me to pursue studies in population health.

I noticed a gap in knowledge surrounding holistic health and Māori perspectives on social media. While these ideas were common within my circles, they weren't widely known. This realization inspired me to establish “Wellbeing with Maia”, a platform centred on holistic health, with a focus on Māori traditional perspectives.

What is one key mission of Wellbeing with Maia?

M: A key mission of “Wellbeing with Maia” is to empower women to prioritize their health and well-being. It's common for women, especially Māori women, to put others' needs before their own. However, I believe women must recognise that taking care of themselves is not selfish but necessary for their own well-being and the well-being of those around them. Through “Wellbeing with Maia”, I strive to nurture and empower women to make their well-being a priority.

We were wondering how you incorporate well-being into your daily routine.

M:  I like to utilise Te Whare Tapa Whā, a simple Māori health framework designed by Sir Mason Durie in 1984, to maintain a holistic perspective on my well-being. Te Whare Tapa Whā describes hauora (well-being) by comparing it to the four walls of a wharenui (traditional Māori meeting house). Each wall of the wharenui represents an aspect of hauora. Tinana - Physical body, Hinengaro - Mental, Whānau - Family/Connections and Wairua - Spiritual. When all 4 aspects of the whare are in balance then so will your hauora. This model helps to identify the aspects of your life that need attention so you can create a lifestyle that is conducive to your well-being. So long as I am doing things that support my mental, physical, spiritual and social aspects of hauora, I am thriving.

One of my favourite daily mental health rituals is expressing gratitude. I like to practice gratitude in the car on the way to work, I list off the things I am grateful for in that moment in time. I often do gratitudes with my husband in the evenings, too.

I also really enjoy grounding & getting natural sunlight first thing in the morning. Planting both feet on the whenua (earth) first thing while basking in some sunlight really lifts my spirits and calms my nervous system. I’ll take some deep breaths if I remember, too. All free, super simple and can take as long or as short at 2 minutes.

What single piece of advice would you offer to someone who is just beginning their wellness journey?

M: I love mantras because the way you speak to yourself matters, and one of my favourite mantras that has helped shift my mindset when it is negative is: "You can't hate yourself into a version that you love." Shaming yourself into prioritising your hauora (well-being) isn’t sustainable and further perpetuates negative self talk.

It's crucial to be patient with yourself. Quick-fix challenges may offer temporary results, but sustainable habits are key. If you approach your health and well-being with patience and kindness, you can establish lasting habits that support a healthier lifestyle in the long term.

Is there a piece of advice you would give to your younger self, knowing what you know now, that you think you would have helped back then? 

M: You deserve the love you freely give to others. Be kind to yourself, be patient and stop comparing your journey to anyone else’s. Yours is beautifully unique in its own way. Focus on you and stop comparing yourself to others and embrace kindness and self-love instead.

You co-host the “Girls That Invest” podcast, which has become one of Spotify's most successful financial podcasts, inspiring many girls to venture into investing. What motivated your involvement in this podcast, and what are your aspirations for it?

M: Being part of “Girls That Invest” is an absolute joy for me. I love podcasts and when Sim approached me to be a co-host, I was all in. Sim and I are friends, I’m chatty and we have good banter so it works and I’ve been really enjoying it.

I've admired the work of “Girls That Invest” and their mission to empower women with their finances, which resonates deeply with me. Growing up, financial literacy wasn't something I was formally taught, and I know many others share that experience. So, being part of a platform that provides accessible resources and encourages conversations about money management and investing is incredibly fulfilling.

Our goal with the podcast is to continue empowering women, making finance and investing less intimidating, and breaking down complex jargon. It started as a passion project and remains one, albeit a highly rewarding one.

What does being a woman mean to you?

M: Honestly, being a wahine (woman) is empowering. 

From a Māori worldview wahine (woman) in are traditionally seen as the bridge between the spiritual and physical worlds because we bring life into this realm, te ao marama (the living world).

Furthermore, I view wahine (woman) as the nurturers of the world. We embody love and care in unparalleled ways. This nurturing spirit is fundamental to our identity as women and is a testament to the profound impact we have on those around us. I love being a wahine and while it does come with its fair share of difficulties living in a patriarchal society, I find wahine in my life continue to empower, support and love despite the challenges we face.