Large landowner the Atihau-Whanganui Incorporation now employs four beekeepers and would be keen to get another experienced one.
Its 40,000-odd hectares of hill country in the Waimarino have a lot of mānuka, and more may soon come into production, CEO Andrew Beijeman said. Each hectare of mānuka can potentially produce 30kg of honey.
A trial planting of 14ha has been made on Ohorea Station, on a small piece of land fenced off to protect a waterway. More may be planted on steeper country this winter.
A honey storage shed has been built for the group in Ohakune.
Mr Beijeman spent a day as a beekeeper, and said beekeeping was similar to growing and selling milk, meat and wool. He said bees were stock, just like sheep and cattle.