Project Local: Hunt & Gather Bee Co.

We’re buzzing with excitement to introduce the newest addition to our Project Local series: Hunt & Gather Bee Co. From their home base in Raglan, Rory and Hannah have crafted something truly special—honey that’s not only delicious but also embodies sustainability, community, and care for the environment.

You’ll now find a selection of Hunt & Gather Bee Co.’s honey on the merchandise shelves in our stores. It’s the perfect pairing for your favorite Volare loaf or simply a sweet treat to elevate your day.

But what’s the story behind this vibrant local business? How did a teacher and former dairy farmer dive into the world of beekeeping? And what’s their secret to producing honey that tastes like sunshine in a jar?

We caught up with Rory and Hannah to learn about their journey, the highs and lows of small business life, and why their bees—and honey—are thriving. Read on for the full scoop (or should we say spoonful)!

What inspired you to start Hunt & Gather Bee Co.? Was there a moment that sparked it all?

We were previously Dairy Farmers, and Hannah is a teacher. We had wanted a change and Rory applied for a job as an apprentice beekeeper on TradeMe. About 2 years into his new career we sold our house and tossed up whether to buy a new house or invest in starting our own business and we decided to jump right in and start Hunt and Gather Bee Co.

What makes your honey stand out? Are there any unique steps or practices that you follow?

Really, it's that taste that makes it stand out. We use really sustainable beekeeping practices which include using all wooden frames in our beehives and glass jars for our honey. All these things cost us more as producers but the end product is where you can really taste the difference. We also have really healthy bees, which makes a big difference to the quality of our honey.

Both Hunt & Gather and Volare value supporting local – what does “keeping it local” mean to you?

It means creating dependable, fresh, vibrant food producers who can tell you how your food got to your plate and all the people along the way who have benefited from your food purchase. It means supporting each other and developing a thriving network of amazing people who are making and growing our food for us. If means valuing what is good for you, good for your community and good for the ngahere.

Small business life is full of ups and downs – what have been some of your biggest challenges and proudest moments?

The challenges are pretty constant. We were hit really hard by cyclone Dale a few years ago. It came in before Cyclone Gabrielle and happened to hit a very specific area where we had a whole bunch of hives. They were smashed up and washed out to the ocean in the flood waters and it was truly devastating. The amazing thing was that when we were finally able to get access onto the property we found a few small colonies of bees still alive in the wreckage. Our proudest moments are really seeing our team thriving - learning new skills or discovering parts of the job that they really love. Seeing our amazing customers at markets and hearing their feedback on our honey is also hugely rewarding.

Can you give us a quick rundown of your honey-making process? How does each jar capture the essence of what you do?

We place our bees in hand picked areas where we can target certain flowering plants such as Kānuka, Mānuka, Rewarewa or Kamahi. We then wait until they have filled the honey boxes on their hives with fresh, delicious honey and we then take the full boxes to our extraction shed here in Raglan. We spin the honey out of the frames and when we need it, we have it packed into jars, ready to sell.

Do you have any favourite Volare and honey combinations you’d recommend?

Our go to is Volare Fig and Walnut Sourdough with plenty of butter and lashings of Kānuka Honey. That in one hand and a cuppa in the other and you're away!

What are some ways you take care of your bees and keep the environment thriving?

We take a lot of care to check and treat our bees regularly for pests and diseases. There are a few nasties like Varroa mites which are a big problem for beekeepers and their bees. We also make sure that our bees are away from sprays and things by placing them out in wild, natural places to do their honey producing.

What’s next for Hunt & Gather Bee Co.? Any exciting projects or new products coming up?

We recently launched our Chai Spice Honey, and we are now working on developing some new flavour combinations. We also recently sent our first shipment of honey to Japan, so we are looking forward to making some new export opportunities.