Two New Zealand Mānuka honey businesses are leveraging the FernMark to cut through in a global market that is cluttered with imitation.

New Zealand has long been known for producing quality Mānuka honey, which is often described as the ‘liquid gold’ of all honeys. With increasing competition in the global market, two New Zealand Mānuka honey producers are doing their best to ensure New Zealand-made Mānuka honey maintains this recognition and identity on the world stage.

Steens Honey and Taylor Pass Honey are vertically integrated businesses that maintain a focus on best practice beekeeping, balancing Aotearoa New Zealand’s natural ecosystem and sharing their authentic Mānuka honey with the world.

Founded in the 1980s by Paul and Sheryl Steens, Steens Honey was built on a yearning for a healthy, and sustainable lifestyle. This led to its patented extraction process, which the pair says allows the business to produce honey in its raw and purest form. Steens Honey was one of the founding honey producers involved in the Active Mānuka Honey Association (AMHA), now known as the UMF (Unique Mānuka Factor) association, and is a proud advocate for New Zealand Mānuka.

Nearly 20 years later in 2001, Taylor Pass Honey was born from the business’s passion for the connection between people, land, and bees. Established as an export-focused brand, Taylor Pass Honey partly attributes its success to the regional diversification of its beehives – situated in Blenheim and Wanaka. This allows a consistent supply of honey, and a range of floral sources, including Mānuka, which only flowers four to six weeks of the year.

Both producers value kaitiakitanga and strive to serve as guardians of Aotearoa New Zealand’s natural environment. Rebecca Margetts, Taylor Pass Honey’s Sales and Marketing General Manager, says that connection to – and protection of ­– the land is critical. The organisation has a focus on continuous improvement, accountability, transparency and building strong partnerships through ethical business practices.

“Land is at the heart of everything we do, and taking care of it is how we ensure an ongoing commitment to quality honey. We always strive to tread lightly, leaving as little of an impact as possible.”

Both businesses believe in honey you can trace back to its origin and delivering quality products that are representative of New Zealand’s rich biodiversity.