You may be disappointed to hear that even I still enjoy my cup of coffee 1st thing in the morning. It is the only cup that I indulge in for the day. After that, I am mostly drinking herbal tea, hot, cold or otherwise. I can go out and harvest some fresh herbs straight from the garden…..

With the sunny days now here after what seems a very long absence on these shores it feels like the perfect time to break out our Energising Gingery Summer brew. Perfect as a mocktail or you could even drop a little vodka in to really spice this blend up.

Give it a try…..

PODCAST: Let’s talk about being good Kaitiaki for Papatūānuku and our native, healing plants of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Welcome to Episode 8 of ‘Grow the Good’ Podcast as Co-Founder of ŌKU Helen Paul-Smith sits down with Alpha to be interviewed about sustainability in business amongst many other things…..

PODCAST: In this episode, Scott talks about his passion for making New Zealand a better, healthier place, and how he's doing it right from his own backyard…..

With Summer upon us it’s the perfect time to be outdoors and active. In our hot and pretty unforgiving NZ sun we all need to find a way to keep cool. One of the best and easiest ways to do this is to indulge in a store bought ice cream or ice block…..

In the last few years there has been an increase in the awareness of the native plants of Aotearoa, New Zealand and the medicine that they hold. They are being found in herbal medicine and natural therapies practiced, as well as in an increasing number of natural products…..

Experience the refreshing healing effects of Kawakawa

Just in time for Spring or really anytime you want a nice refreshing, energising and detoxing start to the day……

Helen was the proud winner of the Marketing & Sales Category and 1 of 3 local Māori businesswoman recognised at this year’s Māori Women’s Development Incorporated (MWDI) 2022 Business Awards…..

Scott and Helen Smith have turned a native New Zealand herb into a suite of tea blends. We find out how a personal health journey inspired the foundation of a company dedicated to restoring native plants – and led to a flight alongside the New Zealand Prime Minister….

Just in time for Winter a blend of our very own Protect tea with honey and berries that can be served hot or cold to help support your natural immunity……

Matariki is a time for our company ŌKU to gather and reflect upon the previous year and what we have achieved, how we achieved it and plan for the year ahead. In particular, being a Māori owned business we reflect upon, how we have given back to the whenua and our community……

When I was growing up I can remember my Mum literally chasing me around the back yard trying to catch me so she could give me my antibiotics. I had yet another chest infection. I can’t remember if it was the medicine I hated or I just simply didn’t want to take it, but it was a regular occurrence growing up, and the weakness in my chest stayed with me long after I was a child……

So many stories I have heard over the last 20+ years, of how people began working in the natural healthcare industry because of a health crisis they experienced. For me it was no different.

I was born with a hereditary kidney disease that had already taken a mighty toll on my family. Taking both my elder brother & two uncles to kidney failure. So in many ways my life was always going to be shaped in large part by this condition….

I grew up in rural Aotearoa New Zealand in a modest 3 bedroom weatherboard home that looked out onto the three central North Island maunga; Ruapehu, Ngarahoue and Tongariro in National Park village….

Horopito (Pseudowintera colorata) is a plant that gives us clues to what it is good for by observing its natural habitat. This native plant is endemic to New Zealand and is found mostly in places where the climate is cold and damp. It can often be found growing with a type of dark fungus growing over it…..