By Adrien Taylor
Manuka honey producers in the Coromandel are facing what some call the worst harvest in at least 20 years.
They are not alone in their struggle with poor weather, and the National Beekeepers Association warns a price rise is almost inevitable.
Beekeepers Association spokesperson Neil Stuckey says the situation is “pretty poor”, with some keepers bringing back hives that had died of starvation, instead of boxes of honey.
Several Coromandel beekeepers say their Manuka honey production is less than half of last year’s.
Shayne Mackenzie has been a beekeeper for 20 years, and says this is the “worst season for as long as we've known”.
“It makes it very hard to bring back good quality honey.”
The Beekeepers Association says Manuka honey production in the North Island has been poor so far, and a price rise is likely.
Honey lovers can blame the unseasonal cold, wet and windy weather that has kept the bees inside their hives – and as Mr Mackenzie says, “you can’t fight Mother Nature”.
As well as making life difficult for bees, the poor weather has also meant the Manuka tree hasn't had a consistent flowering.
As the Manuka tree flowers further south there's still hope that the honey flow will pick up, but Mr Stuckey's not holding his breath.
“Past experience is this sort of weather pattern just goes right through summer, so it looks like it's just going to be one of those years,” he says.
Last year was also "one of those years", with honey flow down 25 percent nationally. Beekeepers and honey lovers will be hoping for better weather next season.
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