Growing the Te Hiku Honey Industry
Media Release: 26th November 2013
Te Hiku Iwi and the Ministry of Social Development recently hosted a hui in Kaitaia for local Honey
Producers and Bee Keepers in Te Hiku, to explore opportunities to nurture and grow the local
economic benefits from the industry.
The initiative, driven out of the new Te Hiku Social Accord and sponsored by ANZ Bank, was well
attended by over 65 interested people including; local bee keepers, iwi leaders, industry advocates
and supporting business development agencies.
Chair of the Te Hiku Iwi Development Trust Hugh Karena said, “It’s great to see our home people
engaged in an industry that empowers them to work on their whenua, with their extended whanau.
The Honey Industry has great potential to create businesses run by Maori in Te Hiku.”
Local bee keepers and honey industry producers highlighted the hard work that is required to
succeed in the industry, maintaining beehives, getting their product to market and growing the local
honey industry in Te Hiku. Local bee keeper, Robert Murray talked about his passion and the
enjoyment he felt when working on the whenua, and building a business that can provide jobs and
employment for other whānau members. “You have to work really hard if you want to work with
bee, but you couldn’t ask for a better office, or work mates.” said Robert.
One concern raised at the hui was the ever growing pressure of large honey corporates attempting
to dominate local honey harvesting opportunities, which could in the future potentially force local
bee keepers off the land and Te Hiku honey producers out of the industry.
Victor Goldsmith of the Miere (Honey) Coalition from the East Coast, talked about the regional
collaborative approach that Ngati Porou are currently pursuing, to ensure that the local honey
industry maintains a controlling interest within their communities. Their approach, based on a
model similar to Fonterra, will see East Coast bee keepers and producers leveraging their collective
efforts to secure the opportunities and rewards for local communities, as well as ensuring that their
products make it to market at the best possible value.
The approach was applauded by the local honey producers, sparking discussions from the hui about
how the honey resource present a huge opportunity; to maintain the financial benefits from local
honey production within the Te Hiku community, help to improve local employment, and grow the
local Far North economy.
Regional Northland Commissioner for the Minister of Social Development Eru Lyndon added,
“Whānau demonstrated their strong engagement and passion for the industry and the evening
highlighted both the individual opportunities and the potential for wider economic growth in Te
Hiku.”
Financial support and planning assistance options available through the ANZ Bank, Poutama Trust
and Work and Income New Zealand were presented to the hui for those considering entering the
industry or growing their existing business.
David Stapleton, tutor from the local Te Runanga o Te Rarawa and Telford Apiculture (Bee Keeping)
Course also gave a presentation outlining the certificate course that is offered in Kaitaia, one of the
few such training options within Aotearoa New Zealand.