PLANT FIEND
Peter Butler
In Plant Fiend, Peter Butler explores his relationship with plants, which have always been both a love and a refuge – and led to the establishment and success of both Forest Herbs Research and HealthPost. Chaired by Robbie Burton.
In his memoir, Peter Butler explores his relationship with plants, which have always been both a love and a refuge.
In the mid 1970s he and his then partner purchased 90 acres of dense rainforest in Golden Bay’s Aorere Valley. Living amongst the nikau and rata developed his passion for forest plants but it was gold-mining that helped finance his experimentation with commercial crops. He started with subtropical fruit, before becoming one of New Zealand’s first certified organic kiwifruit growers. When the wet climate and marketing issues put an end to the kiwifruit, growing cannabis was his next venture. It also did not end well for him.
Wanting a high value but legal crop to grow, Peter then researched the medicinal properties of New Zealand native plants. The plant with the best supporting science was horopito, one of the world’s oldest flowering plants.
His plantation of horopito now covers several hectares and the resulting business, Forest Herbs Research, has developed products utilising the plant’s powerful anti fungal properties.
Peter also helped grow a large online retailer of natural health and skincare products, HealthPost, based in Collingwood and owned by him and his family.
Plant Fiend is the story of a driven, risk-taking entrepreneur. His successes and struggles are described with honesty and humour, making for a wonderfully engaging, reflective read.
Peter will be joined on stage by his publisher, Robbie Burton, in what will be a wide-ranging conversation.
Peter Butler
After completing a Political Science and History degree at the University of Canterbury and moving to a remote forest in Golden Bay, Peter threw himself into several entrepreneurial activities, not all of which were successful. However, his relentless determination paid off with the highly regarded natural health companies Forest Herbs and HealthPost. Outside of horticultural and business activities he has produced a feature documentary and written four books. His current passion is to improve the biodiversity of the Wharariki Farewell Spit area as Chair of HealthPost Nature Trust.
Robbie Burton
Robbie Burton was born, and has lived most of his life, in Whakatū Nelson. After working as a conservationist and then a community arts worker, he began in 1990 as the publisher at Craig Potton Publishing, now Potton & Burton. Over the last three decades, Potton & Burton has grown into one of the largest independent publishers in Aotearoa, entirely focused on non-fiction books. He continues to live in central Whakatū Nelson with his family, and to get out into the backcountry whenever he can.
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