Suzanne Aubert was born in France in 1835. As a child she was very unwell and she credited her recovery to her faith. She became interested in medicines and healing however as a woman she wasn't able to study to become a doctor. At the age of 25 she decided to live a missionary life.

Suzanne travelled to New Zealand on board the whaling ship 'General Teste' with Bishop Pompallier and several missionaries including members of the Marist order and the Sisters of Mercy. She landed in Auckland and was expected to begin her work at a school for Maori girls there. On board ship and during the very long journey Suzanne learned te reo Maori from Pompallier and one of her achievements, looking back now, was a book of conversational Maori which she wrote in later life. Aubert travelled to many parts of the New Zealand including the Waikato (1863-1865); Northland; Hawkes Bay; Palmerston North and Whanganui, the West Coast, Christchurch, Nelson and Wellington, Dunedin. Travel at this time was by small boats, by foot, on horseback and in small carts. It was tough.