In 2005, we bought a derelict cattle farm that was bordered on three sides by Kahurangi National Park.  The dream was to re-establish the trees that would ensure the native birds could flourish.

The land was named Kinsterrain Estate and is on Cobb Valley Rd, a very remote location over 600m high above Golden Bay, in New Zealand.  Some bush was already established and birds like Kea and Weka were nearby but it was rare to see or hear them.  The land is lucky to have several streams, limestone caves, and a waterfall.

Ten years ago we set up our first beehives at Kinsterrain Estate and have been selling honey and related skincare products ever since.

Bees will forage for whatever the hive requires.  During early spring they generally seek out pollen to feed the brood; during summer they collect nectar that they convert into honey.  The bees will collect nectar from the easiest floral source. Just as the Manuka flower is rich with nectar, our beekeepers will remove any honey boxes from the hive and add new boxes with empty honey comb.  This doesn’t guarantee the bees will only collect from a certain flower but it does increase the proportion of a certain honey.  To label a honey as Manuka it must be tested in a government approved laboratory and certified as Manuka or less pure honey as a Manuka honey blend.