East Coast locals are hopeful Kanuka may be the answer to tackling the region's land erosion, if the commercial viability of Kanuka oil can be scientifically proven. Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
Landcare Research and Hikurangi Bioactives have won a Science NZ award for partnering to work on kānuka - a small tree probably best known for growing on scrubland.
It's hoped an industry can grow by telling the story of its heritage in te ao Māori and of the land it grows on, much like the French have done with Champagne.
Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research and Hikurangi Bioactives, who have been working together for 5 years, have found that a new kānuka industry has the potential to create employment and economic opportunities for Māori in remote areas.
The partners have developed a new eczema cream that clinical trails showed significantly reduced the severity of the skin complaint.
The collaboration also led to the creation of Hā Kānuka, a national entity that represents all kānuka producers in Aotearoa.
Kathryn speaks to Nikki Harcourt (Waikato- Tainui) Kaihautū Māori Research Impact Leader at Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.
