Honey sector strategy aiming for sweet spot
While confident that the apiculture sector can meet its target of doubling honey exports by 2030, chair of ApicultureNZ, Nathan Guy, says it will be challenging.
30 hectares of mānuka will be initially planted on Northland College land – an initiative that provides current and future employment opportunities for Kaikohe people.
The Northland College Mānuka Initiative stems from the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan which identifies 58 actions for stimulating the Northland economy.
Senior Regional Official, Ben Dalton is responsible for the government's delivery of the Action Plan and highlights the significance of the Northland College Manuka Initiative.
"The mānuka honey production industry as well as many other primary industries have been identified as a growing industry in Northland. That means there will be more jobs available, and skilled workers will be in demand," says Dalton.
"The 11 people have been trained in foundation forestry skills and will be working for 16 weeks. Solid training combined with solid experience on the job means these workers will be ready when new jobs open up. We want local primary industries to be able to employ skilled locals."
"The initiative not only provides work opportunities immediately, it also provides Northland College students the opportunity to study Apiculture through Lincoln University, and gain practical experience on site, giving them an upper hand for future employment," Dalton adds.
The Initiative is being implemented by Northland College and supported by Ministry for Primary Industries, Te Puni Kokiri and Ministry for Social Development.
Background information
With government support, an initial 30 hectares of Northland College land will be planted in high performing mānuka cultivars for honey production. By 2017, this is expected to extend to 100 hectares.
Knowing what mānuka cultivars to plant, and how the plantation is to be planted and managed for honey production are a result of successful scientific research to date that the Ministry for Primary Industries and Manuka Research Partnership (NZ) Ltd are investing in through the Primary Growth Partnership.
The mānuka site will provide revenue in the future for the College to reinvest.
The mānuka plantation site has the potential for high erosion and the mānuka will help stabilise the land to stop more erosion.
This initiative was a highlight of the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan in February this year. 5 Ministers visited the school and planted mānuka trees on the school grounds to symbolise the significance of the project.
