They are saying that El Niño is back, and the forecasters (Earth Sciences New Zealand - the team formerly known as NIWA) officially declared El Niño conditions last month, as one to rival the five strongest events on record.

It's become a fixture on the honey calendar, and this year it was bigger than it's ever been. The Manuka Orchard Open Day was also the day we put a name to something we've been quietly building for the past five years - Project 2030.

Demand for genuine New Zealand mānuka is holding. Supply is tightening. Beekeeper numbers have fallen. The people still standing are the ones who'll shape what comes next.

Four days at Mystery Creek, alongside 132,000-odd others who came through the gates (a 20% jump on last year, and the strongest turnout in five). If you needed a signal that the rural sector is feeling optimistic again, that was it.

Mānuka Orchard's, Logan Bowyer, will be speaking at this year’s Fieldays Tent Talks on the topic: “The Future of Mānuka: Why the Best Years Are Ahead."

Rural areas that may have once been considered secondary - regenerating scrub blocks, steeper country, or land that has never quite fit within a traditional farming system - are now being recognised for their role in supporting mānuka honey production.

Research mapping nectar and pollen resources across New Zealand has shown that indigenous forests and native vegetation provide some of the richest food sources for bees, particularly during key seasonal periods.

When most people think about pollination, they often picture fruit orchards or horticultural crops. But one of the most important places pollination quietly supports New Zealand agriculture is much closer to the ground - in our pasture systems.

Globally, it is estimated that around one-third of the food we consume depends on animal pollination in some form, while here at home, many of our most valuable crops rely on pollinators to maintain yield and quality.

Across the honey industry, production has been impacted by weather conditions. For many, this has meant a lighter harvest than previous years. But rather than seeing this as a setback, it’s worth stepping back and looking at what it signals more broadly - Because at the same time, buyer activity has strengthened.

This coming spring / early summer is shaping up to be largely favourable for honey production in the North Island, with warm temperatures, enough moisture, and (fingers crossed) a weak La Niña influence.

Our time here at Apimondia 2025 is in full swing, and the Manuka Orchard team continues to work hard on the stand - meeting people, generating leads, and creating new opportunities for honey sales across a wide mix of countries.

Logan, Tania and the kids, have touched down in Copenhagen, Denmark, for Apimondia 2025 - the world’s largest gathering of beekeepers, honey producers, scientists, and industry leaders.

Field trials reveal strong Varroa control options, with Nassenheider and BQ Swedish Cloth strips showing promising results. Oliver Smith of Beequip NZ highlights the importance of pairing proven treatments with vigilant, regular monitoring—catching mites early before infestations overwhelm colonies. A mix of the right tools and timing can help Kiwi beekeepers stay ahead of Varroa and protect hive health.

The Manuka Orchard Open Day once again proved to be more than just an industry catch-up, it was a place where ideas were shared, connections strengthened, and the passion for bees, honey, and agriculture shone through.

At the recent Manuka Orchard Open Day, Shane Max, Zespri’s Head of Global Extension, shared a forward-looking update on the role bees play in New Zealand’s kiwifruit industry, and the importance of strong beekeeper–grower partnerships as the sector continues to expand.

John Mackay from dnature diagnostics & research presented research at the Manuka Orchard Open Day, showing that hive swabbing, particularly at the entrance, can detect AFB spores before clinical signs appear, giving beekeepers time to act and protect both hives and honey.

Technology company GPSit representative Khan Greig presented at the Manuka Orchard Open Day, sharing how technology can take the guesswork out of hive placement in orchards - and thereby boosting pollination results and improving communication between growers and beekeepers.

Dr Pike Stahlmann-Brown, from the newly formed Bioeconomy Science Institute, shared key findings from the 2024 New Zealand Colony Loss Survey, at the recent Manuka Orchard Open Day.