The Bees

The Bees at the Heart of Every Drop.

At Rare New Zealand, our Manuka honey begins with the wellbeing of the bees themselves. By supporting natural behaviours, nourishing strong colonies, and placing our hives in pristine New Zealand landscapes, we allow the bees to produce the purest, highest-grade Manuka honey possible.

The Foundation of Premium Manuka Honey

Bee Welfare First

Healthy bees make exceptional honey.
Our beekeeping philosophy prioritises colony strength, natural behaviour, and minimal stress.
We avoid over-handling, chemical shortcuts, and overcrowding - practices that compromise bee health. Instead, we follow a slow, nature-led approach that mirrors what leading scientific research shows: bee wellbeing directly affects Manuka honey quality and potency.
Hives Across New Zealand’s Central North Island.

Our bees live across more than 1,500 hives positioned in some of the most untouched regions of the Central North Island - landscapes rich in wild Mānuka and native flora that support strong, healthy colonies.
Our hive regions include: Hawke’s Bay, Dannevirke, Taihape and Taranaki
This geographical spread protects the bees’ food sources, avoids over-foraging, and ensures long-term hive resilience.
Science-Led Beekeeping with a Light Touch

Our beekeepers monitor hive health using measurable scientific indicators such as:
Brood pattern stability - Queen health and longevity - Hive temperature and humidity - Colony population balance - Local Mānuka flowering cycle -Seasonal nectar flow
This allows us to support the bees at the right moment - and step back when nature is doing her finest work.
A Harvest That Respects the Hive

We take only what the bees can spare.
By harvesting conservatively, we ensure the bees retain enough honey to thrive through colder months. Every frame is lifted with care and minimal disruption, preserving the harmony inside each hive.
Raw.
Respectful.
Uncompromised honey.
Bees — Nature’s First Quality Assurance System

Bees instinctively filter nectar, avoid environmental contaminants, and select only the purest floral sources. Their natural behaviour is the first step in producing honey that is clean, bioactive, and rich in the properties that make Manuka honey so extraordinary.
The Subtle Intelligence of the Hive

Our bees are the quiet guardians of every jar. Living across remote North Island landscapes rich in wild Mānuka, they forage naturally and thrive under our low-intervention, science-guided care. By supporting their wellbeing at every step, we allow the bees to create honey that is naturally pure, potent, and unmistakably New Zealand.