Learning about honey at Buzz into Spring Expo

BeeNZ owners David and Julie Hayes shared the many uses honey has for medical and health care.

There was a good turnout at the Katikati Herb Society's recent Buzz into Spring Expo, sharing the importance and requirements of the honeybee.

The two speakers, Brett and Zoe Soutar and Julie and David Hayes from BeeNZ were well received.

The Soutars, who are hobbyists, spoke of their venture into natural beekeeping and how remaining true to their philosophy have kept to their brand name, Bee Fair, Herb Society's Jean Dunlop said.

Most herb and gardenpeople are inclined towards organics, they said.

The Soutarstold their stories of getting started, their trials and experiments to get to the place they are now, which they are very happy with.

After lunch supplied by club members the groupheard speakers Julie and David Hayes.
The couple started a honey business on Tetley Road in Katikati and cover the whole range of beekeeping with more than 1200 hives being managed by their sons.

They do extracting, processing and marketing of honey and export to many countries.

Hobbyist beekeeper Brett Soutar speaking at the Buzz into Spring expo.

The Hayes talked about their research into the many uses honey has for both medical and health care. Attendees were able to enjoy a tasting session at the end of their talk.

Their company is open during the week for purchasing their products and there are tours available around the premises.

"This would be a great learning experience for younger people and children and also to learn the importance of the honey bee to the world of humans," Ms Dunlop said.

"At the expo there was a large sales table with over 200 potted herbs and natives to choose from which proved very popular. Some of the herbs were quite difficult for the Society members to obtain, so it was a good opportunity for gardeners to get their hands on some desired species," she said.

There were also tables with a good variety of homemade jams and preserves, dried teas, herbal tonic, balm teas and honey, she said.