A Hastings man has appeared in court charged with receiving three 300kg barrels of stolen honey valued at $40,000.
James William O'Keefe, 41, was arrested and charged after police executed a search warrant in Hastings yesterday morning.
He appeared in the Hastings District Court facing one charge of burglary and another of receiving the stolen honey barrels in relation to the large-scale theft of honey and associated products.
Beeswax, a shotgun and ammunition were also located during the search and O'Keefe was remanded in custody to appear again in September.
Apiculture New Zealand chief executive Karin Kos said the arrest was a good outcome and sent a clear message that the police were taking honey and beehive theft seriously.