Native Kiwi Kānuka Honey
250g / 500g

New Zealand Kānuka honey is produced by bees collecting nectar from the Kānuka plant (Kunzea ericoides).

Kānuka plants can be found growing throughout New Zealand.

This product is made in New Zealand with honey sourced from hives in the Northland and Taupo regions.

Northland

The Northland (Māori: Te Tai Tokerau) region of New Zealand comprises of 3 main districts, the Far North, Kaipara and Whangarei, with 13,286 km2 total land area.

Northland has a sub-tropical climate and is one of the warmest regions in New Zealand, allowing for long summers with parts receiving about 2000 hours of sunshine each year. The region is renowned for its coast lines, sparsely populated regions and is popular for local and international visitors.

The Far North of New Zealand, has an environment rich in coastal landscapes and wild native flora. Combined with the subtropical climate there are favourable growing conditions for Kanuka trees.

For Native Kiwi, the “Far North is where we are born, this is where we live.”

To learn more about Northland, visit https://www.nrc.govt.nz/.

Māori Mythology & Origins of New Zealand Honey

In New Zealand Māori mythology, ‘Io Matua Kore’ means the beginning of existence (energy, potential, the void, nothingness), which gave birth to Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatuanuku (Mother Earth). They in turn gave birth to children such as Tangaroa (sea), Tane (forests and birds), Haumia (wild plants). These children created Te Tai Ao – (our precious natural forest environment) from which our bees harvest honey from.

Māori whakapa (history and values) started in the Pacific islands at Rarotonga as Ngati Io, from whom Maui came in a great Waka (canoe) and caught the ‘big fish’ Te Ika a Maui (New Zealand). The next great Polynesian explorer from the Pacific was Kupe, followed by other migration waka (canoes). A modern waka (sailing ship) from England in 1839 brought the first honey bees to New Zealand, establishing these in the Far North region. The ancestors of those bees along with new strains make the Native Kiwi honey today.

Taupo

The Taupo region (Maori: Taupōnui-a-Tia) is located in the centre of the country’s North Island, within an active volcanic zone. The area at 6,970 km2 is rich in forestation, lakes and old volcanic craters. It contains Australasia’s largest fresh water lake, Lake Taupo, which is about the same size as Singapore. Also in the region are Tongariro National Park, which holds World Heritage status, and Pureora Forest Park.

This is a land of strong contrasts. Plants vary considerably in this rugged landscape, from areas of alpine herbs, to tussocks and flax,to vast areas of natural Kānuka trees.

To learn more about the Taupo region, visit https://www.greatlaketaupo.com/.

  - the ability of natural ecosystems to maintain their biological processes and functions

Traditionally, Māori believe there is a deep kinship between humans and the natural world. This connection is expressed through kaitiakitanga – acknowledgement of the quality and vitality of the environment. For Native Kiwi this means being respectful to the land where bee hives are placed, and toward the owners of that land. 

Native Kiwi believe in leaving our natural environment in a better condition for future generations. Bee keeping supports healthy bee populations. These bees perform the role of pollination, which is vital in sustaining the food supply for all living things.

Native Kiwi Bee Hives

Native Kiwi bee hives are manufactured from thermally modified New Zealand Radiata pine, grown sustainably in plantation forests. These hives are free from chemicals.

The timber used to make the hives is placed into a special chamber where it is exposed to temperatures of up to 220 degrees Celsius. Steam is added to prevent the timber from combusting. This process increases the durability of the wood as it burns off the edible sugar compounds upon which fungi live on.

Honey boxes are assembled from natural and untreated wood grown in New Zealand.

Native Kiwi products are obligated to be produced in compliance with New Zealand's Resource Management Act (2009), and local council Resource Management Plans, which set out rules and regulations around management of the New Zealand environment.

These rules include:

• Disposing of waste in ways that prevent pollution
• Controlling manufacturing emissions to ensure air quality is maintained
• Using only approved chemicals in a way that will not harm the environment
• Operating within a safe distance of waterways to avoid erosion and protect water quality

The regulation and compliance monitoring of environmental concerns is performed by government-owned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

- the ability to meet our own needs without compromising the needs of future generations

Native Kiwi is focused on creating opportunities that will contribute to the health and wellbeing of their local communities.

Working Together - Collaborative Enterprises

Native Kiwi aim to get more whānau (Māori family) involved in the valuable honey industry. Native Kiwi work collaboratively with Māori owned beekeeping companies, including Bee Wize Aotearoa, based in the Far North of New Zealand. Bee Wize Aotearoa draws on traditional Māori structures to achieve its goal of encouraging Māori land owners to become bee farmers on their own land. This is achieved by growing bee hive numbers owned by whānau, managing the beehives on their behalf until such time as the achievement of practical beekeeping skills linked to traditional Māori values and beliefs allows independent responsibility.

Native Kiwi leadership guide and mentor Bee Wize Aotearoa, supporting the joint aspiration that each whānau and iwi (Māori tribe) business is able to retain its individuality, be innovative and independent.

Laboratory Tested for Safety & Quality

Native Kiwi products are laboratory tested at independent and accredited laboratories.

This testing regime ensures product safety and that final product meets the nutritional descriptions on the label.

Produced Under New Zealand Government Regulations

New Zealand has Acts and Regulations in place to ensure honey products produced are safe for consumers and that manufacturers use fair and sustainable practices.

Facilities extracting and bottling honey are required to operate under a Risk Management Programme as per requirements of Animal Products Act 1999.

Meets Overseas Market Access Requirements

Native Kiwi products meet the market access requirements (OMAR) of the countries to which it exports.

Auditing

Extraction, bottling, transport and storage facilities are audited in order to verify the requirements of Risk Management Programme (RMP), and Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP).

This product contains 100% New Zealand honey.