Sustainability Hero
Hunt & Gather Bee Co.
BYD Auto New Zealand 2024 Sustainability Finalist Hunt & Gather Bee Co started in Raglan with 16 hives and ute on their mission to make a difference and showcase honey varieties.
Bustling around Raglan is a swarm of happy bees foraging nectar from native fauna. They return to humble hives and carefully craft the liquid gold that will twinkle on your porridge in the morning, drip from dinner’s glazed ham and give an extra kick to tonight's cocktail. This is the art of Hunt and Gather Bee Co. that has sweetened up New Zealand’s honey industry, diversifying a precious market in only eight ambitious years.
Rory and Hannah O’Brien were dairy farmers who wanted to make a change. Beekeeping called their name and proposed a more achievable and sustainable venture…so they packed their bags and moved to the mighty Waikato. Starting small with sixteen hives, a ute, and a couple of eager hands, Hunt and Gather Bee Co. flew.
The Hunt and Gather Bee Co. honey range uses nectar from the likes of Kānuka, Rewarewa, Pohutukawa, Mānuka and Rāta; exposing the world to decadence and nutrition from a variety of native trees. Beeswax wraps and honeycomb are also among their offerings.
Collaborations with other great brands have created a range of honey-graced products. This has included a Mānuka Honey and Orange Blossom Gin with Good George Distellery and ‘Sweet As’ Sauerkraut with Good Bugs. You could say the honey meets good and makes it great!
A collaboration with Mons Flavour forged their Chai Spice Honey - a 2024 Outstanding Food Producer Awards Gold Medal Winner. The authentic flavour and medicinal properties of Kānuka honey are blended with gut-healthy, circulation-enhancing chai to create what judges described as an ‘innovative’ and ‘beautifully spiced’ product. This honey is too a celebration of an extended vision.
“We really want to add value to New Zealand Honey. We’re trying to look for new ways to highlight different honey varieties and what is amazing about them, contributing to research around the properties of Kānuka honey, refraining from gimmicks and adding products that are actually good for people.”
Sustainability is a core responsibility that Hunt and Gather Bee Co. unwaveringly upholds. Beekeeping itself is a low-carbon, low-impact form of agriculture. Bees also support the growth of plants by pollinating native fauna. Following the bees' lead, Hunt and Gather Bee Co. persist in an environmentally friendly journey that always has sustainability in mind. This transpires in all choices they’ve made, from their hive material where the honey is cultivated, to the vehicles that deliver the finished product to your door.
They build the hives themselves, which are made of wood; an optimum choice for bee welfare and can be recycled or composted at the end of their life cycle. All water used in their operation is captured rainwater and they’ve opted for hybrid cars for their on-road fleet. Plastic is spared from all packaging, with jars and paper labels being used instead. They’ve also developed a circular economy where pre-loved jars are returned, sterilised, and refilled. These are sold at a reduced price so customers save a penny and the planet!
Although Hunt and Gather Bee Co.’s production process ensures a low impact on the environment, they strive to make a lasting impact on the people involved. Hunt and Gather Bee Co. employees include high school leavers and those rejoining the workforce. “If someone is willing to turn up and give it a good go, it doesn’t matter where they’ve come from,” Hannah says.
Employees are also supported in gaining qualifications through Primary ITO, first-aid courses, and licenses, setting them up to thrive during and beyond their time with Hunt and Gather Bee Co.
Hunt and Gather Bee Co. have appreciated a customer base that has begun to understand the ideal uses for the different varieties of honey; saving Mānuka to soothe a sore throat and using Rewarewa when craving a rich flavour punch. They’ve also catered to curiosity with ‘Beekeeping Experiences’ on offer that take you on an engaging (and tasty) journey through the beekeeping process.
A bright and busy future sees Hunt and Gather Bee Co. strengthening their position in the tourism market, shaping a sustainability-focused export system and building an off-grid premises. Best bee-lieve they’ll persist in their environmentally-friendly pursuit that endures from the forest to your table.
Check out the Hunt and Gather Bee Co. website to find out more.