‘Brand kānuka’ could be a unique NZ industry

New research shows kānuka has promising medical uses. (Image: Ministry for Primary Industries)

Tue, 25 Mar 2025

New Zealand’s humble kānuka plant could seed a new Māori-led industry by building on its whakapapa, much like the French did with champagne.Growing on marginal land is easy, and new research has found products with commercial potential in the health and lifestyle markets. Landcare Research scientist Nikki Harcourt said the compounds in kānuka weren't unique to the plant, but kānuka itself was unique to NZ. The way to build a kānuka industry here was to build on its provenance, Harcourt said.A provenance industry relies on th...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

Economy

Dire economy opens door for 50bps cut in October

The New Zealand economy contracted 0.9% in the June quarter.

Rebecca Howard 1:30pm

Retail

Kitchen Things on brink, $16.6m owed: Administrators

The retailer made a $4.7m loss in the year to March 2025.

Gregor Thompson 1:15pm

Kitchen Things on brink, $16.6m owed: Administrators

Property

Developer Profico Group in liquidation

Profico Group developed in both Christchurch and Auckland.

Gregor Thompson 12:58pm

Sponsored

Future leaders start by Dreaming Big

How OnBeingBold empowers Year 13 girls at free leadership events.

OnBeingBold

Sponsored

Free AI training blitz targets 10,000 Kiwis

Workshops aim to close NZ’s AI skills gap and boost productivity – no tech skills required.

Sponsored by Lumify

More Primary Sector

Primary Sector

Dawn Meats offer for Alliance above independent valuation

A vote will be held next month.

Riley Kennedy 12:05pm

Primary Sector

MyFarm KiwiFruit Fund launches $35 million capital raise

The MyFarm KiwiFruit Fund has launched a $35 million capital raise for wholesale and institutional investors, and those offshore that qualify for the Active Investor Plus visa.Units are being offered at $1.02, a 5% discount to the fund’s net asset value.The offer, which will clos...

Rebecca Howard 10:33am