Our New Zealand Nature
Proven and Powerful New Zealand Nature.
New Zealand is renowned for its beautiful coastline, green rainforests, snow- capped mountains and pristine seas. smith&burton proudly celebrates the unique nature, flora, fauna and fruits of New Zealand found nowhere else in the world. We harness the proven power of these superb ingredients from one of the world’s cleanest environments to preserve their purity and activity. New Zealand’s fertile soils, clear air, high sunshine hours, clean rainfall and fresh seas help create these antioxidant-packed, nutrient-rich ingredients, sought after for their unique bioactivity to effectively improve a dogs’ skin and coat condition.
Pohutukawa Extract
(Metrosideros Excelsa Bark/Leaf Extract)
Common names: New Zealand Christmas tree
Native to New Zealand, the iconic Pohutukawa tree is known as the New Zealand Christmas Tree because of the bright red blooms, which decorate the trees during the Christmas season. Pohutukawa often features on festive greetings cards, poems and stories.
Pohutukawa is found all over New Zealand, although its natural growing range is in the North Island. It grows best in warm, drier areas close to the sea. It can grow to 20 metres high and 35 metres wide and can live to over 1000 years!
In Māori mythology, its flowers are said to represent the blood of a young warrior who perished while trying to avenge his father’s death.
In traditional Māori herbal medicine, Pohutukawa was used topically for wounds and abrasions.
The bark contains ellagic acid, which has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The bioactive extract from the flowers is conditioning, deeply moisturising, antioxidant-packed and antiseptic.
Products containing this Ingredient
Hydrating Shampoo, Hydrating Conditioner, Hydrating Cologne, Nourishing Shampoo, Nourishing Conditioner, Nourishing Cologne, Soothing Shampoo, Soothing Conditioner, Soothing Cologne, Gentle Puppy 2-in-1 conditioning Shampoo, Gentle Puppy 2-in-1 Cologne, Dermal Relief 2-in-1 Conditioning Shampoo
Kelp – New Zealand Sea Kelp
(Macroystis Pyrifera (Kelp) Extract)
Common name: Kelp, Seaweed, Sea Kelp, Giant Kelp and Bladder Kelp.
Seaweeds are the most ancient plants on earth and can be traced back to three thousand years. They play an important role in their extraordinary nutritional and medicinal value.
Macroystis Pyrifera, the brown giant New Zealand Sea Kelp plant can be huge, growing up to 20 metres high and it can grow up to one metre a day! It is the largest and one of the fastest-growing seaweed species in the world.
Known as the super nutrient of the sea, New Zealand Kelp is harvested from the most pristine waters in the world.
Kelp is high in iodine, vitamins and minerals, amino acids and is antioxidant-rich, which is incredibly nourishing and soothing for the skin and hair, especially the root of the hair.
It is also known to help soften and hydrate dry skin and adds moisture and shine to dry hair. Its minerals penetrate the skin and remove toxins. As well as being a nourishing food for the skin and hair, it has the added benefit of iodine and tannin to cleanse and purify, and silica for a strong, healthy coat.
Products containing this Ingredient
Nourishing Shampoo, Nourishing Conditioner, Nourishing Cologne
Kowhai Extract
(Sophora Tetraptera (Kowhai) Flower Extract)
The Kowhai is one of the best-known native trees in New Zealand high in bioactivity and recognised as a large tree growing up to eight metres high. Their natural habitat is beside streams and forest edges, in the mountain open areas and lowlands. Nectar found in the bright yellow flower of the Kowhai is much sort after by the native birds: Tui, Bellbird and Woodpigeon.
Kowhai was used topically by Māori as herbal remedies for itchy skin, abrasions and musculoskeletal aches and pains.
The Kowhai leaves were traditionally used for its cleansing, moisturising and soothing benefits.
Kowhai flowers deliver are high in antioxidant bioactivity. With its natural antimicrobial properties it helps halt the growth of microorganisms like bacteria or fungi.
It is calming and conditioning making it ideal for moisturising the skin and coat.
Products containing this Ingredient
Poroporo Extract
(Solanum Aviculare (Poroporo) Herb Extract)
Common names: Bullibulli, New Zealand Nightshade
Poroporo is a softwood shrub native to New Zealand growing up to four metres tall. It is often found in shrublands, gullies, alongside rivers, on forested margins and in reverting pasture.
Its purple flowers and yellow-orange berries easily identify Poroporo. The early English settlers used the berries in pies and jams, calling them Māori gooseberries. The Poroporo bushes were planted around the Māori villages, and they used the berries as well as the leaves, not only for cooking but for medicinal purposes too.
The leaves and bark are anti-inflammatory and antifungal, antipruritic (stops itching) and antibacterial. Traditionally used to treat skin complaints, sores and wounds, cuts and bruises, and still are today.
The component believed to be responsible for the healing activity of this plant is the steroidal saponin solasonine. Steroidal saponins have a close structural relationship to steroid hormones produced by the body (e.g. the anti-inflammatory steroid cortisol).
Poroporo is now used primarily as a topical anti-inflammatory in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions. Helping treat inflamed itchy skin, ulcers, bruises wounds, sores, eczema and dandruff.
Products containing this Ingredient
Dermal Itch Relief 2-in-1 conditioning Shampoo, Dermal Itch Relief Topical Spray
Kawakawa Leaf Extract
(Macropiper Excelsum (Kawakawa) Leaf Extract)
Common name: Pepper tree, Māori bush basil.
Kawakawa is one of the most distinctive New Zealand native plants. As a shrub or small tree, it grows throughout New Zealand with family members around the pacific. It can be found growing from the coastal areas of New Zealand to lowland and an important understory species in coastal forests.
The name Kawakawa comes from the Māori language, where it refers to the bitter taste of the leaves, from kawa or bitter. Māori used its bitter-tasting but aromatic leaves to make tea.
The root, fruit, seeds and especially leaves of the Kawakawa plant were used for medicinal remedies by Māori people and in early European times. It has been used traditionally to treat cuts, wounds, stomach and rheumatic pain, skin disorders and toothache. Topically, Kawakawa leaf applications were used for bruises and rheumatism, the pain of neuralgia, nettle stings and for eczema.
The Kawakawa plant releases oil containing both myristicin and elemicin delivering anti-inflammatory properties. Kawakawa's antimicrobial and analgesic properties make it helpful for treating infections and reducing inflammation of various skin conditions. Kawakawa is also antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal to support the skin's natural healing, treating infections and reducing inflammation and soothing irritations. Making it ideal for treating skin conditions and for dry or damaged skin.
Products containing this Ingredient
Dermal Itch Relief 2-in-1 conditioning Shampoo, Dermal Itch Relief Topical Spray
Kiwi Fruit Extract
(Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract)
Common names: Kiwi, Chinese Gooseberry, Kiwifruit, Golden Kiwi Fruit.
Actinidia Chinesis is originally native to Eastern Asia. The Chinese have collected the fruit from the wild for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. Exported to New Zealand in 1904, it is thanks to New Zealand for domesticating this plant.
New Zealand produces some of the best Kiwi Fruit in the world, with Kiwi Fruit extract having a higher concentration of vitamins than most other fruit.
Kiwi extract is a power food for skin and coat, delivering potent levels of vital vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for deep nourishment, and as an effective treatment against dandruff and itchy skin.
Rich in vitamin C, it also has a powerful antioxidant effect to protect against free-radicals and support the creation of collagen to reduce dog’s hair breaking. By supporting blood flow to a dog’s hair follicles, with vitamin E to stimulate hair growth.
Products containing this Ingredient
Hydrating Shampoo, Hydrating Conditioner, Hydrating Cologne, Nourishing Shampoo, Nourishing Conditioner, Nourishing Cologne, Soothing Shampoo, Soothing Conditioner, Soothing Cologne, Gentle Puppy 2-in-1 conditioning Shampoo, Gentle Puppy 2-in-1 Cologne, Dermal Relief 2-in-1 Conditioning Shampoo, Waterless Foam Shampoo Delicately Scented, Waterless Foam Shampoo Hypoallergenic
Manuka
Common Name: Manuka, Kāhikatoa
Botanical Name: Leptospermum scoparium
The Manuka is an iconic New Zealand tree growing throughout the country and often found on windswept crags and cliff-tops. Manuka is a fast-growing native shrub or small tree growing to three to four metres high and smothered in sweet fragrant blooms for many months of the year. These flowers are an incredible food source for a variety of pollen-loving birds and insects. When gathered by honeybees, the resulting honey has higher methylglyoxal (MG), delivering uniquely powerful health-boosting properties. The oils extracted from this plant have similarly miraculous healing and soothing properties.
The remainder of the tree is also important with its many health benefits. Its medicinal uses have been hailed for hundreds of years, among the original inhabitants of New Zealand.
Manuka Honey
(Mel (Honey))
Manuka Honey is one of New Zealand’s most powerful natural ingredients. Made by honeybees from the nectar gathered from New Zealand’s native Manuka tree, this honey is world-renowned as a superfood healer.
Its powerful healing and hydrating properties are delivered by a combination of Manuka’s natural antimicrobial action, with a humectant quality of honey, to draw in and retain moisture.
Manuka Honey is also nourishing, with nutrients, vitamins, amino acids and minerals that feed, protect and renew a dogs’ skin. With anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, it is a natural healer, soothing red, irritated or inflamed skin and helps fight free radical damage. The coat benefits too, with water drawn to the cuticle and root, sealing in moisture for lustre and shine.
Products containing this Ingredient
Hydrating Shampoo, Hydrating Conditioner, Hydrating Cologne, Nourishing Shampoo, Nourishing Conditioner, Nourishing Cologne, Soothing Shampoo, Soothing Conditioner, Soothing Cologne, Gentle Puppy 2-in-1 conditioning Shampoo, Gentle Puppy 2-in-1 Cologne, Dermal Relief 2-in-1 Conditioning Shampoo, Dermal Itch Relief 2-in-1 conditioning Shampoo, Dermal Itch Relief Topical Spray, Heal & Protect Soothe Balm, Purifying Cleansing Wipes, Waterless Foam Shampoo Delicately Scented, Waterless Foam Shampoo Hypoallergenic
Manuka Oil
(Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Leaf Oil)
Manuka Oil is derived from the leaves, stems and twigs of the Manuka Tree by the extraction method of steam distillation, where water is used to draw out the plant oils.
A renowned antimicrobial, Manuka oil suppresses bacteria and fungi. Unlike the highly regarded Australian tea tree oil, it’s also anti-histaminic, anti-allergenic, anti-dandruff and ant-inflammatory.
Manuka Oil is known to be good for insect bites, so a great natural remedy. It can be used to cure itches, rashes, skin disease, sores, chafing and other skin related problems.
Products containing this Ingredient
Detangler Spray and Leave-in Conditioner, Heal & Protect Soothe Balm
Manuka Water
(Leptospermum Scoparium Branch/Flower/Leaf Water)
Naturally derived by Manuka oil, Manuka Water is famous for its health-giving benefits and has been used as a healing ingredient for centuries. It is calming, astringent, anti-bacterial and rejuvenating for skin making it perfect for irritated skin.
Products containing this Ingredient
Harakeke Leaf Extract
(Phormium Tenax Leaf Extract)
Common name: New Zealand Flax
Harakeke, the Māori name for New Zealand Flax, is native to New Zealand and is one of their oldest plant species. Found near rivers, lakes and along most coastlines, the stunning grass-like leaves of the Harakeke grow to more than three metres in length.
It was an essential fibre plant to the Māori who used it for weaving, rope, matting, clothing and sail making. It also played a primordial role in Māori medicine, using an extract from the plant's omega-rich foliage. The root, leaf and gum were used to treat both internal and external ailments to heal burns, cuts and skin infections, and it was eaten to treat diarrhoea.
Modern science has utilised the benefits of this plant extract, with its natural healing and super hydrating properties for the skin. It is packed with natural skin nutrients, and beneficial plant sugars called polysaccharides - a clear polysaccharide gel exudate produced on the surface of the leaves at the base of the plant.
Harakeke flaxseed is packed-full with nutritious linoleic acid, helping to seal in hydrating and moisturising properties. It contains high amounts of natural phytosterols that relieve and reduce redness and irritation while stimulating healthy cell renewal with antioxidants that combat free radicals and environmental damage to the skin.
This omega-rich flax with its natural healing, cooling and hydrating properties will add shine to the coat and improve dry skin by reducing trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL). It is antiseptic, soothing, cooling and calming, healing and a natural humectant – helping to maintain skin hydration. This is Nature's super-skin hydrator.
Products containing this Ingredient
Dermal Relief 2-in-1 Conditioning Shampoo, Hydrating Shampoo, Hydrating Conditioner, Nourishing Shampoo, Nourishing Conditioner, Soothing Shampoo, Soothing Conditioner, Detangler Spray & Leave-in Conditioner