Small-batch · Cold-extracted · UMF tested
Maungatautari Honey Co. keeps forty hives on the slopes of Maungatautari, inside the predator-proof fence that protects the ecological sanctuary. We cold-extract every jar, never pasteurise, and test each batch for UMF. Everything is sold direct — from the farm gate or posted to your door.
Shop honey →01 · Our honeys
Every honey comes from hives within 5 km of the Maungatautari summit. We harvest once, in late summer, and jar until it runs out.
Dark amber, earthy, a slow burn of warmth. Our flagship. From dense mānuka scrub on the northern slope.
$38 / $68Thicker, more resinous, a lingering medicinal edge. Limited — six to twelve jars per season.
$62Mānuka, kāmahi, rewarewa and whatever the bees find. Lighter, floral, excellent on toast or in baking.
$22 / $38Buttery, mild, almost white when creamed. The children's favourite and the best substitute for golden syrup.
$24A slab of capped comb from a bush-blend super. Eat the wax and all — it is beeswax, not plastic.
$32Filtered and poured from our cappings. Use for wraps, candles, polish or lip balm.
$1402 · UMF & testing
UMF (Unique Mānuka Factor) measures three natural markers: leptosperin, methylglyoxal (MGO) and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). Every batch we harvest is sampled and tested by an independent MPI-recognised laboratory. The results are printed on the jar.
| Grade | MGO | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| UMF 5+ | 83+ | Daily table honey |
| UMF 10+ | 263+ | Everyday wellness |
| UMF 15+ | 514+ | Therapeutic, topical |
| UMF 20+ | 829+ | Medical grade (we do not produce this grade) |
03 · What flows when
Select a month to see what the bees are working and which honeys are freshest.
Maungatautari is a 3,400-hectare ecological island — the largest predator-proof fenced sanctuary in the world. Our hives sit inside the fence on the northern and eastern slopes, foraging on native bush that has been free of possums, rats and stoats since 2006. The honey tastes different because the bush is different: healthy, dense, and flowering the way it did before people arrived.
We keep our hive count low on purpose. More hives means more competition for nectar, weaker colonies and lower UMF readings. Forty hives is enough for the mountain to feed without stress, and enough for us to extract every frame by hand without heating or blending.
05 · Farm gate hours
We sell direct from the packing shed at 412 Karapiro Road. No appointment needed during gate hours — just drive in and honk. Cash, card and bank transfer accepted.
| Day | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | — |
| Tuesday | Closed | — |
| Wednesday | Closed | — |
| Thursday | 10am – 2pm | Extraction days — come watch |
| Friday | 10am – 4pm | — |
| Saturday | 9am – 3pm | Cambridge Farmers' Market 8–12 |
| Sunday | 10am – 2pm | — |
06 · Stockists & shipping
We ship nationwide via NZ Post — $7 flat rate, free on orders over $80. Or pick up from these Waikato shops.