Mānuka honey definition to be discussed at Whangārei hui

A hui about the definition of mānuka honey is being held at Ngunguru Marae today. Photo / File

A Northland honey collective is continuing to fight to have the definition of mānuka honey changed as the current one is "financially crippling" to some beekeepers in the region.

Tai Tokerau Miere - a group of honey entities from Northland - is hosting its third hui this year over the issue, at Ngunguru Marae today.

In December 2017, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) created an official definition of mānuka honey based on the levels of four marker chemicals, plus the presence of manuka pollen DNA.

One of those markers, 2-Methoxyacetophenone (or 2-MAP), must be present at 5mg/kg or more in monofloral manuka honey. But John Craig, a Pataua North beekeeper and former professor who is part of Te Tai Tokerau Miere, said the problem with the definition is that it cuts out almost half of Northland's mānuka honey crop.

"The mānuka honey is different all around the country - we know that from genetics and all of that. So up here it's very low in 2-MAP.

"It could be that the chemical is water soluble and so in warm temperatures you get up north it could disappear from certain places. Honestly, we don't know what the real crux of the issue is," he said.

Craig said this meant even where bees have nothing but mānuka to feed on, the honey could be low in 2-MAP and therefore miss out on a mānuka honey classification.

This had a huge impact on beekeepers as top-grade manuka honey can fetch up to $70 per kg but if tests define it as non-manuka, the price drops to less than $20 per kg.

"It's financially crippling for some beekeepers. They struggle to make ends meet."

Pita Tipene, chairman of Tai Tokerau Miere, is calling for immediate consultation to establish an interim definition that is more acceptable to all beekeepers and international customers.

He said protecting the term mānuka and integrating Matauranga Māori, which had been completely ignored so far, into the process were key challenges to the industry.

The Mānuka Honey Appellation Society and MPI will be present at the hui which starts at 10.30am.