Mānuka honey bee, Te Puke © Bay of Plenty Tourism
The bee’s knees There are 28 species of bees in Aotearoa and you can thank every single one of them for making your life better.
B
ees are responsible for pollinating one-third of the food we eat; if it wasn’t for their nifty ability to pollinate crops, fruit and veg, our diets would be a boring mix of rice and grains. Bees also contribute over $270 million per year to New Zealand’s economy and their honey is a game changer when it comes to upgrading your toast. To appreciate these busy workers in all their multi-million dollarmaking glory, try a unique, New Zealand bee experience.
NZMA Beekeeping Experience Centre, North Shore, Auckland
Head to Redvale, just 30 minutes out of central Auckland for a hands-on bee experience at New Zealand Mānuka Apiculture. Don the traditional white beekeeping suit and learn how a beehive behaves. Pick up a hive frame, swarming with bees, and sample honey straight from the source. 12
We Love You New Zealand! Spring Spring2021 2021
Huka Honey Hive, Taupō
Introduced to Aotearoa in 1839, honey bees are not native to New Zealand, but they are responsible for our world-famous manuka honey. Learn more at The Huka Honey Hive in Taupō. With free entry, enjoy New Zealand’s largest selection of honey products as well as The Honey Shack Tour, a beekeeper-led hive experience open from midOctober to April.
