New commercial-beekeeping industry group Honey and Bees New Zealand (H&BNZ) has an inaugural board and chairperson, Murray Bush, who says the serious business of rebuilding trust among beekeepers begins now. Beekeepers must return that trust though he emphasises, and support he group if it is to hold any weight and survive.

Creditors have tipped Brown family companies Springbank Honey Ltd and Glenburn Green Ltd, both of North Canterbury, into receivership. Debts include more than two million dollars outstanding to beekeepers for honey. The list of those waiting to be paid is long but asset sales may be complicated by potential risk of American foulbrood (AFB) contamination and an ongoing investigation by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Meanwhile, the Brown family continues to trade th

While many around New Zealand beekeeping circles have viewed the news of Springbank Honey’s forced receivership (as detailed in Springbank Honey Forced to Receivership, Beekeepers Owed Millions) with a “good riddance” response, for some it is not as simple as that. At least six beekeeping or honey businesses are still owed substantial sums of money, including two couples at either end of their careers. Dale Gifford, limited physically, has seen his plans for retirement upset

At Mānuka Orchard’s annual Open Day for 2026, July 24 in Paengaroa, Bay of Plenty, the do-it-all honey facility unveiled their vision for the future of the mānuka honey industry. Dubbed ‘Project 2030’, it seeks to marry new-found optimism in honey markets with the organisation required to better match supply and demand.

After a highly eventful six years on first the board of the American Foulbrood (AFB) Management Agency and then seeing through its transition to the New Zealand Bee Health and Biosecurity Trust (NZBB) as chairperson, Mark Dingle recently departed the seat, replaced by Simon Cook. He reflects on a much-changed industry and what’s next.

Takeaways from Mānuka Orchard Open Day 2026 It’s become a staple on the honey industry’s calendar and in 2026 Mānuka Orchard’s annual Open Day on July 24, was bigger than ever, with nearly 200 attendees filing into the Paengaroa Community Hall where a range of speakers and trade displays greeted them. Concluding with the unveiling of the honey facility’s aspirational ‘Project 2030’, there was plenty of expertise imparted. Here’s our key takeaways from the event.

Some honey industry observers appear to believe that the mānuka boom was an historical event. Recent trade data don’t support that conclusion. Non-traditional markets such as Saudi Arabia and South Korea have rocketed to top-10 status by value. Elsewhere, the dark horse of Romania is in the ascendant. For exporters, off the beaten track may be the place to be.

It’s fast getting to that time of year again, when hives are being opened for the first time coming out of winter – a winter featuring New Zealand’s warmest June on record. Many beekeeping tasks await in the next few months, but prime among them is ensuring the queen at the heart of each colony is fit to perform.

While yellow-legged hornets have disappeared from sight for winter, New Zealand's response isn’t over yet. Biosecurity New Zealand and the bee sector are now turning their attention to keeping awareness alive, launching a proposed Hornet Champions network to help ensure vigilance doesn't fade before eradication can be declared.