Nō te whenua, mō te tangata · From the land, for the people

The story of our whenua

From a few hives and a longing to come home, to a whānau business on the East Coast. This is our kōrero.

Read our story

Te puna o te ora · The wellspring of life

One word. Two meanings. One source of nourishment.

In te reo Māori, whenua means both the land and the placenta — the first place that feeds us, before we ever draw breath. That is what we make: soul food from the land, gathered with care and offered back to you.

Our honey, oil and mist come from mānuka that grows on whenua our tūpuna walked. Every jar and bottle carries that story with it.

The coast road winding beside the beach on the East Coast A clear green river framed by pōhutukawa and native bush Beehives in the grass on the hillside above the sea
The Hunia whānau in beekeeping suits among the hives

Te hokinga ki te whenua · The journey home

It began with the bees

Whenua Honey started with a few hives and a longing to come home. Beekeeping brought us back to our whenua in the Eastern Bay of Plenty, and gave our tamariki a way to reconnect with the land they come from.

Today we are still a whānau business, based in Ōpōtiki on the East Coast, a short drive from our marae at Tōrere.

Shop now

Tō mātou whānau · Our family

The hands behind every jar

Gene Hunia in a bee veil holding up a frame covered in bees

Gene Hunia · The Beekeeper

Co-founder and beekeeper. Gene tends the hives and works alongside the beekeepers of our collective to bring in honey that is true to its source.

Elaine in a sun hat helping her son Sol into his yellow beekeeping suit beside the hives

Tohunganui Elaine Hunia · Tohunga (High Priestess)

Co-founder and Tohunga of rongoā Māori, with whakapapa to Ngāitai, Te Whakatōhea, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Ngāti Rangitihi and Ngāpuhi. Every Whenua gift pack is blessed with karakia by Elaine before it leaves us — so what reaches you carries the care it was made with. Here she is at the hives, helping our son Sol into his suit.

Jett Hunia smiling in a bee veil, holding up a frame of honeycomb

Ngā tamariki · The next generation

Our tamariki grew up among the hives. Here is Jett with a full frame of honeycomb, learning the work of the bees on the land she comes from.

Hives spread across a green paddock between the hills and the sea

Te kāhui pī · The collective

The Whenua Beekeeping Collective

Our honey comes from a small circle of beekeepers we know by name — from the East Coast, Tūrangi and the Eastern Bay of Plenty. Local people, caring for their bees on their own whenua.

Every UMF™ batch is independently tested and certified, so you know exactly what is in the jar.

Shop our honey
Three beekeepers of the Whenua collective standing together in the bush

Ngā taonga e toru · Three gifts of the mānuka

One tree. Three ways to care for yourself.

Bees on a frame of capped honeycomb

To nourish

Mānuka Honey · Mīere Mānuka

UMF™ certified mānuka honey from our collective. A spoonful a day of soul food from the whenua.

Whenua Wild Mānuka Oil, 10 ml amber dropper bottle

To soothe

Mānuka Oil · Hinu Mānuka

Steam-distilled from East Coast mānuka. Gentle enough to apply neat to soothe skin, and the heart of our Hinu Mirimiri face oil.

Whenua Mānuka Travel Mist, 100 ml frosted spray bottle

To cool

Mānuka Mist · Wai Mānuka

The floral water of the mānuka. A fine mist to cool and refresh skin, wherever the day takes you.

Ā rātou kōrero · In their own words

Real reviews, shared exactly as written

“Whenua Honey is my favorite places for quality manuka products. The manuka honey is amazing, and the gift packages make such good gifts. Everyone I've given one to has loved it.

The manuka oil is also really good. It's one of those products that's handy to have around for its natural healing and skin-soothing properties.

I've also been to the Rongoa Shower and Healing Centre and had a mirimiri and sauna. It was a great experience and a really good way to switch off and reset. The whole place has a genuine, down-to-earth feel to it, and the treatments were exactly what I needed.

Definitely worth checking out if you're looking for quality manuka products or want to experience the healing centre for yourself.”

★★★★★ Katie-Jean Hata · Google review, 29 Sep 2026
“We were lucky enough to get a miere through kohanga over lockdown, first time EVER my babies have asked for spoonfuls or sandwiches. Smooth, not too sweet and just delicious”
★★★★★ Talita Rika, Opotiki, New Zealand
“Wow yum Manuka too ,full of healing properties and full of taste ! Really happy that I brought Whenua Honey will buy again!”
★★★★★ Letia Hauraki, Whangarei, New Zealand

Koha ki te iwi · Giving back

5% of the profit from every purchase goes to the Whenua Healing Charitable Trust

Bringing free rongoā and traditional Māori healing sessions to our people — open to all, by koha.

A young Hunia tamaiti smiling in a yellow beekeeping suit

Join the whānau

Be the first to hear about new gift packs, seasonal harvests and stories from the whenua.