Bee in bonnet on honey
LABOR and Tasmania’s honey producers are putting pressure on Canberra to financially back the fight to save the state’s Manuka honey brand.
A national campaign to stop New Zealand producers trademarking the word Manuka started in September last year, spearheaded by Tasmanian honey producer Blue Hills which operates a manufacturing and tourism venture at Mawbanna.
Now shadow assistant minister for manufacturing and science Nick Champion and Braddon MP Justine Keay have called on the Turnbull Government to support the Australian Manuka Honey Association’s application for funding to back their legal battle.
Manuka honey, derived from the tea tree (Leptospermum) native to Tasmania, can retail for as much as $120 a jar and is deemed a health product due to its antibacterial properties.
There are five commercial Manuka honey producers in Tasmania and smaller operations that provide them with the liquid gold.
In response to the trademark application in New Zealand, the Australian honey industry has formed the Australian Manuka Honey Association to formally oppose any attempts to monopolise international naming or market rights.
Tasmanian Beekeepers Association president Lindsay Bourke chaired the inaugural meeting of the honey association and said local beekeepers would be“sticking it to” the New Zealanders to ensure their bid does not succeed.
“Manuka is a generic name and cannot be hijacked by honey producers across the Tasman.
He said the worldwide demand for Manuka honey was almost insatiable.
“It is a great niche product for Tasmanian producers. Years ago it was regarded as rubbish but now the world cannot get enough and we are not going to let NZ sabotage that for us,” Mr Bourke said.
Nicola Charles, of Blue Hills Honey at Mawbanna, which has been producing Manuka honey for nine years, spearheaded the campaign to protect the name.
“The New Zealanders have no case,” she said. “But we could take a leaf out of their book though, and learn to promote and market ourselves and what we produce better.”