Healing Ministeries
Suzanne Aubers: Her Ministry of Healing
Herbal Remedies (Rongoa)
Suzanne Aubert's healing ministry began in France, where she gained considerable experience working as a nurse. It is said that she also studied botany, chemistry and medicine at the university of Lyons, her home town.
1860—Suzanne came to New Zealand. From Auckland she travelled extensively, accompanied by Peata, (known as the first Maori sister) visiting and ministering to the Maori people, and studying the local plant materials and native herbal remedies.
1871—the move to Meeane, Hawkes Bay, where Suzanne was invited to help run a school for the Marist Mission. She was provided with the 'Red Shed' - her home, dispensary, and surgery. There was some alarm at reports of explosions and fumes from her experiments! The remedies she concocted were known as Rongoa. Suzanne ministered to the Maori people and settlers alike, and was recognised as Hawkes Bay's first 'District Nurse'. The natives had complete faith in Suzanne and her cures. She was known as 'a loving mother who guided their temporal and spiritual welfare, and a source of great comfort to men, women and children'.
1880—the move to neighbouring Pakipaki, to teach in the native school. Suzanne continued her other labours, and planted a herbal garden for her remedies.
1883—the move to Hiruharama (Jerusalem), 50 miles up the Whanganui river. Again Suzanne became renowned throughout the district for her medical and surgical services. Her remedies and medicines were in large demand, and the sale of them helped to fund the works of the sisters' Mission. It was from Jerusalem that native herbal remedies were first used to any extent by the non-Maori community.
1888—purchase of 'The farm', site of the drying house and factory for commercial production of the herbal remedies. A large orchard was also established here.
1891—a contract made with the company Kempthorne & Prosser, for supply and distribution of the medicines. This resulted in great demand, and also some difficulties. Suzanne was released from the contract in 1894. Later she produced a small range of the rongoa at reduced prices, which she had prepared and bottled herself, and they were marketed by Sharland & Co Ltd.
1892—Founding of the Congregation of the Sisters of Compassion, in Jerusalem.
1899—Sisters of Compassion come to Wellington. Suzanne's growing involvement with the medical world from this time on led her away from patent medicines.
Sited in the middle of the Island Bay Home of Compassion complex is the Suzanne Aubert Memorial Garden, established in 1998. This collection of native plants acknowledges the beginnings of Suzanne Aubert's healing ministry, which continues today.
There is also a Kauri tree in a special garden at Tapu Te Ranga Marae (our neighbours). In this garden there is a brass plaque set in a stone, with this inscription on it.
He whakamaumaharatanga
Ki te whaea MERI
He wahine rongoa i nga tini
mate a paa ana ki te tangata.
1835 - 1926
Translation (literal) by Bruce Stewart
In remembrance to the mother Mary
A healing woman who heals
the many sicknesses of humankind.
1835 - 1926
Click to see:
Original Sharland & Co Limited advertisement
Biochemistry Award
Remedies Agreement
Jessie Munro's rongoa essay
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