Suzanne Aubert (1835-1926) and the Maori healers and herbalists who assisted her forNew Zealand Distinguished Biotechnologist of the year, 1999. Nominated by NZBA Member - Max Kennedy.
During the 1890’s Suzanne Aubert manufactured and commercially sold a range of remedies made from New Zealand native plants. These remedies were sold under the names Karana, Marupa, Paramo, Natanata, Wanena, Hapete, Romino and Kekako. The Evening Post in 1892 called Aubert’s remedies "The chief proprietary medicine of New Zealand". The remedies had significant impact on colonial New Zealand, with 4000 bottles sold per month.
Aubert made a substantial contribution to biotechnology in New Zealand. To the nominators knowledge, she was:
- the first person to successfully combine Maori and Western medicines into products
- the first person to commercially extract New Zealand native plants
- the first woman to launch a commercial biotechnology process in New Zealand
- the first exporter of a commercial processed biotechnology product from New Zealand.
Aubert was unique in that she had significant Western education in science (botany and chemistry), nursing and medicine, and at the same time had a rich knowledge of Maori medicine. She was assisted by Maori primarily from Auckland, Meanee (Napier) and Jerusalem (Whanganui River). Such a wealth of information from two cultures has rarely been duplicated in New Zealand. Many New Zealand natural product researchers today may find that the path they tread has already been well trodden by Aubert over 100 years ago.
The award to Suzanne Aubert and Maori herbalists will be particularly timely considering:
- The current resurgence of interest in natural products manufacture in NZ, (currently there are about 500 companies in this area in NZ).
- The impact natural products have on the NZ economy, which is set to expand considerably in the future (currently estimated by the NZBA Foresight document at $120 million pa).
- The nomination recognised and values Maori traditional knowledge and expertise.
- The theme of this years NZBA conference is natural products.
- from NZBA press release/June 99
Sr Bernadette Mary
The 1999 New Zealand Biotechnology Heritage Award was presented at the annual conference of the NZ Biotechnology Association on Monday 28th of June, in Wellington. Sister Bernadette Mary Wrack (archivist) received the award on behalf of the Sisters of Compassion, and Ms Maria Taiwhati from the Whanganui people received the award on behalf of Maori Healers.
