Our Story
Gold Fern Honey is a family-run, artisan beekeeping operation owned by partners Simon and Isabelle. We are located in the remote South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, home to some of the world’s richest Manuka sites. We take pride in producing top-quality, raw Manuka honey and other New Zealand honey varieties that are sustainably harvested from hives situated between lush rainforests and the rugged terrain of the foothills of the Southern Alps. After selling our honey for many years throughout New Zealand, from national grocery stores to local farmers’ markets, we are now thrilled to offer our honey to the rest of the world.
Thank you for taking the time to visit.
Simon & Isabelle
The art of beekeeping
The healing properties of Mānuka (Leptospermum scoparium) had long been recognised by early Māori. Infusions of Mānuka bark were used as a sedative, and to treat scalds and burns, while vapour from leaves boiled in water was used for colds. But the history of organised beekeeping in Aotearoa New Zealand did not begin until 1839, when Mary Bumby, the sister of a Northland missionary, brought two hives to the mission station in Hokianga Harbour. The New Zealand bush proved a hospitable place for the introduced bees and by the 1860s considerable quantities of honey were finding their way on to the market.
Research into the stability and antibacterial benefits of the rich, amber-coloured honey of uncultivated Mānuka began in the 1990s, when Phil Caskey and his wife Sharan built on the research undertaken by University of Waikato professor Peter Molan. Today manuka honey is coveted worldwide for its healing and anti-bacterial properties.
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OUR HOME
New Zealand is a small island nation in the South Pacific with a diverse and spectacular landscape. It is a place where lush rainforests collide with rugged snow capped mountains supporting some of the world’s rarest wildlife and native plants – including Manuka. Manuka is a dense bush with a short blooming cycle of only 2-6 weeks. It’s during this short period that the honey bees get to work, collecting the nectar that makes pure New Zealand Manuka honey.
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OUR HONEY
We take an artisan approach to the production of raw Manuka honey. Being a family business, we are involved in every step of the production, from the location of our hives and the care of our colonies to the harvesting of our honey, all while using sustainable beekeeping practices and ensuring the highest level of authenticity. All of our honey is tested by independent laboratories before being packaged and sent in its 100% raw form, just as the bees made it.
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YOUR HEALTH
New Zealand Manuka honey is a highly sought-after pure superfood, rich in antioxidants, antibacterial properties, essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, polyphenols and other bioactive compounds to support strong immunity and a healthy lifestyle. As the perfect addition to your daily health protocol, New Zealand Manuka honey also has a unique taste: an earthy, creamy, smooth-textured flavor to brighten up your breakfast, provide that natural energy boost or sweeten up hot or cold drinks.
