The Mānuka Honey Appellation Society is getting almost $6 million from the Provincial Growth Fund to challenge efforts by Australian beekeepers to market their honey as mānuka.
The industry is an important part of the growing Māori economy, with many landowners now earning revenue from whenua that had previously been considered uneconomic.
The $4 million grant and $1.7 million loan will go towards seeking trademark protection in key markets such as China as well as setting up the commercial entity needed to protect such patents.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says it's important to defend what is growing into a multimillion dollar export industry.
"We see this number one product out in the world, it is so valuable mānuka honey that we need to make sure it is not contaminated with overseas production while they steal the New Zealand name as well," he says.
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