Remembering John Rawcliffe, Tireless Mānuka Honey Champion
- Patrick Dawkins
- 18 hours ago
- 6 min read
OBITUARY: JOHN RAWCLIFFE
On December 4 2025 John Rawcliffe passed away suddenly in Malaysia, age 64. He staunchly served New Zealand’s mānuka honey industry for more than two decades, including leading the UMF Honey Association (UMFHA) from 2000 to 2023. Those who worked alongside him pay tribute to a friend and colleague who delivered a lasting impact through an unwavering commitment to mānuka honey’s scientific integrity and gaining its consumers protection.
Tony Wright, UMF Honey Association chief executive
A word I have heard used a lot in reference to John is passion. He certainly had plenty of that! He was unquestionably an early champion of New Zealand as the only source of authentic mānuka honey, and I remember him coming to a UMFHA Board meeting many years ago with the idea that we should seek certification trademark protection. Defending New Zealand’s rights to mānuka is a legacy from John that we continue to pursue.
People who knew John will know he also had a passion for music. One of my favourite memories of John was at a bar in China where he took over the microphone and did his rendition of ‘What a Wonderful World’ while another industry figure did a slow dance in front of the stage. Yes, I have the video. No, I’m not sharing it.
I travelled with John several times, usually trying to resolve some market access issue, and was always impressed by his ability to network and build collaboration partnerships. Others have commented on his impact via the Mānuka ID project and his reach into the international honey expert community. That felt like his happy place – meeting people, doing deals, and having fun along the way.
The current UMFHA team all joined while John was at the helm. They remember his commitment to the industry, UMFHA members large and small, support for his team, and his care for his family. His energy, humour and love of people and the good times will live long in many memories.
Our thoughts are with his family, and on that note, I’ll leave the last word to his daughter Ella Rawcliffe:
I spent some time working for the UMFHA in an administrative role and know how invested Dad was in your story that has so many high points; working with the environment and science to bring income and investment to some of the most far-flung reaches of the country was such a passion for him.
- Kind regards, Ella Rawcliffe
Ella suggests anyone wishing to do so makes a contribution to the Native Forest Restoration Trust: https://www.nfrt.org.nz/make-a-donation
Margaret Bennett, Beekeeper, UMFHA founder and former director
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the news of the recent sudden and unexpected passing of the industry stalwart John Rawcliffe.
For more than 20 years John worked tirelessly for the good of the New Zealand honey industry, New Zealand mānuka honey and the trusting consumer. John was a diligent, hard-working man who had the vision for the goodness of NZ mānuka honey, for the producer of that honey and for the trusting consumer.
In 2000 John joined the small beekeeper-run Active Manuka Honey Industry Group (AMHIG) and used his project management skillsets to take the group to being the very professional organisation it now is: UMF Honey Association.
Throughout the ensuing period of more than 20 years John put his whole heart into establishing and developing the UMFHA and the UMF quality trademark.
John strove to understand mānuka honey from the beekeeper at the point of production, to the researcher exploring its unique qualities and to the trusting consumer in the marketplace.
In 2004 John led the development of the UMFHA website and a brochure telling people worldwide about New Zealand’s mānuka honey and telling the consumer how they can be confident they are purchasing mānuka honey that truly has unique qualities.
One of the key achievements of the UMFHA under John’s leadership and guidance was the Mānuka Honey Identification Project conducted 2013-2016. This project led to the identification of over 2000 compounds that make up mānuka honey.
John saw the need for protection of the name mānuka honey, for standards and for the enforcement of those standards in order to protect consumers, the producers and the researchers. John saw the UMF quality mark as the consumer’s guide and protection and he regularly conducted in-market audits to ensure the consumer was getting honey true-to-label.
We thank you, John, for your continual diligence and hard work for the New Zealand honey industry.
Victor Goldsmith, Mānuka Charitable Trust chairperson
From the Mānuka Charitable Trust and Te Pitau Limited, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt sympathies to the whānau of John. Our thoughts, prayers, and aroha are with them during this difficult time.
John served with dedication and integrity as the Project Manager for the Te Pitau Trust. He will be remembered not only for his passion and unwavering advocacy for our industry, but also for the warmth, generosity, and friendship he shared with so many.
Haere atu rā, e hoa.
Mike Weight, Florenz chief operating officer
I met John on my first official day in the industry while attending a Ministry for Primary Industries function about what was to become the scientific definition for mānuka honey. He was only too happy to give me some context about what it was all about. Over the 10 years that I’ve been in the industry I always enjoyed talking to John because he cared deeply about its progress and was always happy to talk over things that were happening in a constructive way.
I saw John present many times to a range of people, although sometimes it wasn’t 100% clear to the audience exactly what John was trying to help them understand, anyone that saw him speak knew he was highly informed and cared deeply about the subject matter!
His positive energy will be missed.
Phil Caskey, New Zealand Mānuka Group
I first started working with John in the late 1990s when we did some work on propolis products and later that relationship carried through into work we did together in the early days of establishing the protocols around the UMF brand. I did find an old 1999 fax on some work we did together when he was with Nutra-Zeal.
John was always a strong advocate for seeing the UMF brand as a globally recognised quality mark and worked diligently on that ethos throughout his time with UMF. We led UMF into China together in 2012 and established the first Chinese language UMF license with Chinese pharmaceutical company Tong Ren Tang.
My wife Sharan and I extend our kindest and warmest regards to his family. His determination was strong and his voice for the mānuka industry loud.
Dr Adrian Charlton, Fera Science (York, England) principal scientist
John Rawcliffe was a respected professional in the mānuka honey industry and a tireless advocate for scientific integrity, consumer protection, and international collaboration in honey authentication. His work and influence extended across industry, academia, and regulatory communities, where he was widely regarded for his commitment, expertise, and principled approach.
I had the privilege of working with John for more than 15 years, during which time our professional collaboration developed into a close personal friendship. Among his most significant contributions was his involvement in the Manuka ID project, including the associated science symposium in Auckland, which he kindly invited me to speak at, and the collaborative work undertaken with Fera. Through these initiatives, John helped to strengthen the scientific foundations for mānuka honey identification and authentication.
John had a substantial impact on the international scientific community, where he played a key role in raising awareness of the challenges surrounding mānuka honey authenticity and in building support for rigorous, evidence-based approaches. He was an effective communicator and a persuasive advocate, bringing together scientists, regulators, and industry stakeholders around a shared commitment to quality and transparency.
In the United Kingdom, John was a passionate champion of consumer rights. He worked persistently to promote wider recognition of UMF as an independent standard capable of providing consumers and retailers with confidence in the quality and authenticity of mānuka honey. His efforts reflected a deep sense of responsibility to both the scientific community and the public.
Beyond his professional achievements, John was known for his warmth, humour, and wide-ranging interests. He was an enthusiastic follower of cricket, rugby, and football, and he never failed to send a message when Liverpool had won! He also enjoyed classic rock music and took pleasure in discussing favourite bands and albums. He created lasting memories for those around him, whether showing visitors around his country with pride or during his many visits to York, where his curiosity and good humour were always appreciated. Among many shared moments was his bemused observation of England’s unexpected defeat to Iceland in a major football tournament, which he recalled with characteristic wry amusement.
John will be remembered as a dedicated professional, a principled advocate, and a loyal friend. His contributions to the field of mānuka honey and his commitment to scientific integrity and consumer protection will have a lasting impact. He will be deeply missed by colleagues, family and friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
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