Sue Scheele

Position: Science Team Leader
Team: Ecosystems & Global Change
Location: Lincoln
P.O. Box 69040
Lincoln 7640

Phone: +64 3 321 9796
Fax: +64 3 321 9998

Contact Sue

Research Interests

Research interests

cultural uses of New Zealand native plants
plants used for weaving, particularly harakeke (New Zealand flax, Phormium)
pests and diseases of NZ flax
issues relating to access and benefit sharing of biological resources

Current projects

determining relationships and fibre characteristics of cultivars in National New Zealand Flax Collection
development and updating of Nga Tipu Whakaoranga database on traditional uses of native plants
anti-fungal properties of harakeke fibre
on advisory group to develop a national policy framework on bio-prospecting (in recess)
team management (Ecosystems and Global Change)

team management

Qualifications

Lincoln
DipAgSc Entomology
1983
Otago
BA Education
1975

Publications

Buchanan's List - plants important for Maori subsistence economy Paper submitted to Otago University Press (Conference Proceedings, 2013)
Weston RJ, Smith GJ, Scheele SM, Williams SH 2012. Accelerated hydrothermal degradation of fibres of Phormium tenax (New Zealand flax). Journal of cultural heritage 13(4): 413-418. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S129620741100118X (Journal Article, 2012)
Scheele S 2011. New Zealand woolpack and textiles samples. In: McKergow F, Taylor K ed. Te hao nui: the great catch. Auckland, New Zealand, Random House New Zealand. Pp. 174-179. (Book Section, 2011)
Smith GJ, Tang Y, Dyer JM, Scheele SM 2011. Coumarins in Phormium (New Zealand flax) fibers :their role in fluorescence and photodegradation. Photochemistry and photobiology 87(1): 45-50. (Journal Article, 2011)
Scheele S, Smissen R 2010. Insights into the origin and identity of National New Zealand Flax Collection plants from simple sequence repeat (SSR) genotyping. New Zealand journal of botany 48(1): 41 - 54. (Journal Article, 2010)
Harris W, Scheele S, Forrester G, Pahewa E, Te Kanawa K, Murray M 2009. Varietal and environmental influences on the properties of strands prepared from Phormium leaves to make the Maori garment piupiu. New Zealand journal of botany 47: 249-269. (Journal Article, 2009)
Smith GJ, Chadwick R, Konese N, Scheele S, Tauwhare SE, Weston RJ 2008. Photodegradation of Phormium tenax fibres: the role of naturally occurring coumarins. In: Hayward M, Kramer E ed. Textiles and Text: Re-establishing the links between archival and object-based research: Postprints. Archetype Publications. Pp. 264-268. (Book Section, 2008)

Memberships

Member of Bioprospecting Taumata group Ongoing; In recess awaiting Crown response to WAI262 claim, MBIE

Skills

Ethnobotany
Indigenous - Research on traditional uses of NZ native plants, particularly flax.
Health and Safety
Project Management
Treaty of Waitangi Issues
Team management
Manager, National New Zealand Flax Collection
Manager, Nga Tipu Whakoranga database on traditional uses of NZ native plants