News Archive 2000

Scientists in Wellington have begun uncorking bottles of natural remedies made 100 years ago to find out what plants were in the used to make the remedies.

An agreement was signed on 7 June 2000 between Ngati Ruaka and Ngati Kotahi, Industrial Research and The Mother Aubert Home of Compassion Trust Board to investigate the contents of the health remedies manufactured by Roman Catholic nun Suzanne Aubert in the 1890’s.

Sister Aubert based her recipes on Maori knowledge and used New Zealand native plants to make a wide range of remedies, nine of which she commercialised. The recipes for the remedies were known only by Aubert who destroyed her records in 1897 when she stopped production.

Industrial Research scientist Max Kennedy said unopened bottles still existed for four remedies. Scientists will analyse the chemicals in the remedies, known as flavonoids, and try to match these with flavonoids found in native plants. Dozens of plants will be scanned as part of the process.

"Chemically it’s like doing a jigsaw puzzle. There are lots of chemicals which have broken down in the remedies over time, so we’re just seeing fragments of these which we will piece together."

Scientists at Victoria University are collaborating in the research by analysing DNA from the remedies and matching them with plant DNA. This will provide an alternative method for discovering the remedies’ contents.

Dr Kennedy said the project’s objective was not to commercialise the remedies and the agreement prohibited this from happening. The main aim was to return knowledge to Maori. However, other commercial developments could flow on from the research.

"It’s a first for New Zealand in terms of reverse ethnobotany. We are taking ancient knowledge which has been lost and returning this to its original owners, instead of the knowledge flowing in the other direction which is more common."

The agreement is designed to cover intellectual property rights for Maori. Brendon Puketapu, representing the Ngati Ruaka hapu, said the agreement protected tribal knowledge within current circumstances. "It is significant because it provides a model for relationship building that can be used for similar projects in the future."

Ira Te Au from Ngati Kotahi said the people associated with Suzanne Aubert in Paki Paki – Hawke’s Bay, affectionately called her "Mother Aubert." "Not only was she a healer of the soul, she also administered herbal medicines to the sick." Many old gardens in Paki Paki showed evidence that people grew their own plants and trees for medicinal purposes, she said. "The ongoing well-being of the whanau depended on this. Mother Aubert left a legacy – that of faith, hope and compassion."

Sister Bernadette Mary Wrack of the Sisters of Compassion said they supported the project. "We hope that it will lead to this treasure being understood a little better by us and that it will be safeguarded for the Maori." The remedies were widely endorsed in 1890’s by distinguished people, and in 1892 Wellington’s Evening Post newspaper described them as "the chief proprietary medicine of New Zealand."

The parties to the agreement are also keen to locate and include in the project the descendants of one of Suzanne Aubert’s closest contemporaries, "Peata" from the Bay of Islands. Peata is credited by Sister Aubert as having taught her about traditional Maori use of plants for medicinal purposes. Known as Hoki before taking her vows, Peata is recognised as the first Maori nun, and was thought to be a niece of Ngapuhi chief Rewa.

Funding for the project is being provided by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology under its native plant processing for Maori programme.

For further information contact Max Kennedy at Industrial Research:
Phone: (04) 569 0000