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.