About Our Honey
In ancient times, the New Zealand Maori used a number of natural remedies to maintain their health. One of these was the honey derived from the beautiful flowers of the native Manuka tree. As well as ingesting the honey for good health, it was widely known that by applying it to wounds it reduced the chance of infection and dramatically aided the healing process.
Whakaari Internationals Ora brand Manuka Honey is extracted from native forest in the isolated areas of New Zealands East Cape. These areas are as free from any chemicals or sprays as any area could be in our beautiful country. Whakaari International is UMF licensed, which means our Manuka honey is independently tested to establish its antibacterial qualities. The UMF number present on each jar represents its comparison to a standard reference antiseptic (phenol) for potency. As a guide, UMF 20+ would have a similar antiseptic effectiveness as a solution of 20% phenol and water.
Whakaari International has developed the "Ora" brand as its flagship. The word "Ora" means health and well-being and is an appropriate word to describe the healthy qualities of Manuka honey.
The brand we have developed is based on the Koropepe design which portrays a coiled snake-like or eel appearance with a bird-like head. The design sends a clear signal that the owners of the product are Maori and have had an association with the source of Manuka honey for many centuries.
Whakaari International currently sells the majority of its honey in bulk but its bottled Ora products are growing in volume and over time the objective is to add value ourselves and to sell with the added value returning to us and the local community. Over the next short while Whakaari International will be developing other products to reflect the growing demand for manuka honey products.