Another big move for honey

Kaikohe's Omapere Rangihamama (Omapere Taraire E & Rangihamama 3xA Ahu Whenua) Trust has signed a five-year agreement with Westervelt Owhaoko Honey Ltd, to the delight of trust chairman Raniera Tau.

"Beekeeping and honey extraction is an exciting industry, and has the potential to increase our contribution to the local economy," he said.

"This relationship is about shared responsibility, diversifying our respective portfolios within the trust organisation and management."

The strategic direction and intent for ORT was to manage the land and its resources to their fullest economic potential, to advance positive social change for whanau, trustee Dr Te Tuhi Robust saying a considered, measured approach had been taken to ensuring that an agreement had been reached with the right people.

"We are confident that we are meeting our obligations to our shareholders and beneficiaries," he said.

"With opportunity comes compliance, as we will be on a learning curve over the next five years. The opportunity to learn the business, to train and employ our local people, is an absolute bonus, and we are looking forward to having Westervelt alongside us on this journey."

Westervelt Owhaoko Honey operations manager Chris Bowman, who is based in Taupo and has proven experience in honey-packing and exporting, said the company was keen to maximise opportunities to train and employ local people.

"We have had good results with on-the-job training with 12 beekeepers at the Turangi apiary, becoming New Zealand's first graduates with national certificates in apiary management Level 2, and we are eager for this to continue," he said.