Bee Kind was a top five finalist in business awards

Rachael Chester from Bee Kind. Photo/John Stone.

A Whangarei enterprise was among the top five finalists in a national business award.

Bee Kind's beeswax polish range was a finalist in the Best on the World Stage section of the Buy NZ Made People's Choice Awards last month.

"It's a major accolade," said Bee Kind managing director Rachael Chester.

"I was pretty humbled as I was up there with large New Zealand companies Whittaker's, Resene, Wattie's and Tip Top."

Ms Chester formed the business in 2009, and it remains a family-owned business based in Whangarei.

"I also support local businesses such as getting premium beeswax from Kaitaia, rather than cheaper beeswax from overseas," she said.

Following a long battle with severe psoriasis, Ms Chester started making her own natural soaps, washing powders and furniture oils, and began putting them on TradeMe.

"I was doing a herbal medicine course with the goal of becoming an animal practitioner. I ended up getting so busy with TradeMe and I had to give up the herbal medicine course after seven months," she said.

Bee Kind exports to Japan and Australia, and the United Kingdom under the brand name Beeplenish.

Beeplenish was a recipient of the UK Janey Lee Grace Platinum Award 2012, Ms Chester said.

Her future goal for the business is expansion. "It's growing all the time."

For more information about Bee Kind, visit the website www.beekind.co.nz.