A plan to revitalise New Zealand’s honey sector has been launched, hoping to set the industry on a more sustainable and profitable path for the long term, but some local beekeepers hold concerns.
Thriving Together: Futureproofing New Zealand Apiculture 2024-2030 - a strategy for the underfinanced and struggling honey sector has some beekeepers concerned about the proposed export levy and the lack of details on how they will command premium prices for all honey products.
The strategy, initiated by Apiculture NZ, proposes a new compulsory export levy and new export quality standards. It recommends creating a new industry body with significant authority to deliver the strategy and communicate with stakeholders to double NZ honey export value by 2030.
“While the strategy looks and sounds positive it’s very short on details as to how we will command premium prices for all honey products and, importantly, how this will flow back to the beekeepers running the beehives,” Wakefield-based beekeeper Nick Milne explains.
“There’s an underlying concern from beekeepers that this is part of a push to make compulsory levies, paid to Apiculture NZ, at a time when industry costs are at an all-time high and bulk honey prices are weak, albeit showing signs of small growth.
“Focusing on mānuka honey, larger producers, and packers/exporters has meant that many grassroots beekeepers feel that they are not being advocated for effectively by their industry body.”
Long-time beekeeper and Apiculture NZ board member, Murray Elwood, says that introducing levies would have a beneficial effect on all beekeepers and the industry as a whole.
“The strategy is sensible and beneficial, our money maker is mānuka, so it makes sense to try and get the right pillars, quality customers, and focused sustainability. We need to work on customer focus and marketing.
“If we can get exporters on board and stop undercutting each other, we can get prices up and create some equilibrium which will be good for all beekeepers.”
Murray says that part of the strategy involves investigating and adjusting to what overseas customers want and highlighting that our New Zealand honeys are a premium product.
Regarding the ambitious goal of doubling honey exports by 2030, Murray says it’s a high target to attain, but having a goal gives direction, confidence, purpose, and growth.
“If you don’t have a goal, you have nothing to work towards; even if we could increase exports by thirty per cent, wouldn’t that be wonderful.
“There are many people that have put in countless unpaid hours for the good of the industry over the years, I think it’s time all of the stakeholders got behind our industry professional representation and the strategy can encourage this.”
The strategy is currently a living document which means it will change over time.
