Ruatāhuna honey venture blends tradition and innovation

Atereano Mateariki Rangi Mātāmua | Ruatāhuna honey venture blends tradition and innovation

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The community of Ruatāhuna is making waves in the global honey industry, thanks to a new state-of-the-art production facility built by Manawa Honey.

Professor Rangi Mātāmua, a trustee of the Tuawhenua Trust who founded Manawa Honey, says the facility, nestled deep in native bush, is not only boosting efficiency but also connecting people to their land and heritage.

The new plant means honey can be processed and bottled locally, saving time and costs while supporting the local economy.

But the innovation doesn’t stop at production.

Mataamua says they are also exploring the connection between bee activity and the lunar cycle.

“For the most part, the bees are definitely linked into that circadian sunlight rhythm. So they definitely understand length of sunlight and also temperature, and that really kicks them into their breeding cycle and their production of honey,” says Mātāmua.

With world titles for taste and a commitment to community, Manawa Honey is proving that tradition and innovation can go hand in hand.

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