Bob's your uncle, Scott's your aunty

Aunties come in all shapes and sizes - and now the term is no longer gender-specific.
Tauranga man Scott Smith is an aunty, and a very special one at that.
Recently, he joined "Aunty's Garden", a programme that encourages Maori growers in the region who want to be part of a new wave of sustainable Maori economic development.
Developed by Kahungunu Asset Holding Company Ltd, Aunty's Garden was named "for the women who work tirelessly to support their whanau, retain their traditions and hold fast to their tipuna," says general manager Aramanu Ropiha. She explains the concept of the network is about creating pathways for Maori entrepreneurs to deliver their products to market from the natural resources of land, water and sea.
When his own health began to fail in 1999, Scott, who had trained in IT, retrained as a herbalist and naturopath. "It was part of my health journey really - it was a calling. I had been born with a kidney condition and I ended up on dialysis, requiring a kidney transplant. That's been my journey for the past 10 years. I absolutely know the herbs have helped me. The transplant I received didn't 'take' very well and doctors predicted it would only last six months."
What Scott decided was to use a combination of herbs and nutrition. "It helps restore the balance by working with the body's own healing ability. The body is the best doctor of all but sometimes it needs a helping hand. It's a partnership with the drugs I had to take, and the doctors said whatever I was doing, keep doing," Scott says, as the transplant actually lasted six-and-a-half years.
Unfortunately, he is now back on dialysis. "It certainly outweighed any prediction they made, but I am now back on the transplant list."
With so much first-hand experience with his own health problems and finding out just how beneficial herbs could be, Scott felt he was in a position to help others.
Passionate about herbs and using natural cures, especially making the most of New Zealand's native plants such as kawa-kawa, he developed a range of teas and drinks and his business Oku Herbs was born.
He had six months' down-time, as he was very unwell, and although he used this time to develop a whole range of products, he only brought the range of teas and drinks to the market. "We primarily focused on the teas - a range to appeal to those who would not normally drink herbal teas, as well as those who do."
Ongoing research is continuing and developing to a stage where Scott says he is happy to release new products to the market.
"We did the farmers' markets last year at Tauranga and Mount Maunganui and built up a loyal following of customers. I enjoy getting feedback about how my products have helped people."
Scott has found it a challenge to develop and run the business while working full-time as a herbalist and looking after his five-year-old son in partnership with wife Helen who was involved with the business and is now pursuing other business interests.
He has formed a partnership with Tairawhiti Pharmaceuticals, a company based in the East Cape, which provides him with most of the native herbs Oku requires that is harvested sustainably from Maori land and he sources other plant material from local growers.
Aunty's Garden now provides him with a channel to expand his market and take his business to potential suppliers and stockists. Scott also believes in the importance of using natural resources with the opportunity to use dormant Maori land to grow native plants, restore it as a renewable natural resource and so grow the native herbs industry.
Currently, 40 have signed up to Aunty's Garden and the call is going out to encourage more people to join the movement, with the aim of reaching 100 members. Members can connect with other growers to share knowledge, advice and support.
From this month, the website will offer a virtual farmers' market to connect buyers and growers of natural produce and goods. For more information, go to www.oku.co.nz and www.auntysgarden.co.nz.