21
COROMANDEL LIFE
SPRING 2013
The indignities vested upon Aussie dog Bazz having to don this high
tech bee-dog-suit pales into insignificance when we consider the bee-
saving role he performs. He’s trained to sniff out American Foulbrood, a
disease that quickly spreads, infecting larvae and can eventually wipe
out entire hives.
MANUKA HONEY: A MAGIC POTION
Manuka honey, with renowned antiseptic, anti-bacterial and
immune-boosting properties, is keenly sought world-wide
for use as wound dressing. The leaves of the
Leptospermum
scoparium
(manuka, or tea tree), are distilled for its medicinal
oil. These healing properties are also carried in the tree’s nectar,
which the bees collect from the wild groves in early summer.
In making the honey, the bees naturally add an enzyme which
adds to its potency.
The honey is used to fight infections, killing harmful bacteria
without damaging body tissues. The activity is associated with
a hydrogen peroxide action; methylglyoxal being one of the
factors.
The honey treatment has been shown to be effective against
some of the toughest bugs known to man, those resistant to
antibiotics, and so-called ‘superbugs’. It is an ideal energy food
and helps promote endurance, and is especially effective to
treat stomach ulcers, flu and cold bugs, external wounds and
hard-to-treat bed sores.
Paul Berry of Sanctuary Honey, one of few approved Coromandel
organic honey exporters, related a story about manuka honey.
“Originally manuka honey was considered an unpalatable crop
and was fed to cows, much like Trevally was used as fish bait
in the old days. Older beekeepers recall that these cows were
much healthier and didn’t suffer from many of the prominent
bacterial infections that are now treated with antibiotics in the
‘modern’ dairy industry.”
Is your honey potent? Look for the internationally accepted
rating for Unique Manuka Factor or UMF of over 10, with 15 plus
being desirable. You may also find a methyglyoxal (MGO) rating,
which is a rating used only in NZ.
Wild New Zealand manuka honey is known for its high quality,
and it is sold at a premium price. The best honey from the best
remote locations, from the best country. New Zealand.
Who is Behind the Lens?
The stunning shots in this story have been kindly provided by
photographer Ian Patrick of Matarangi. Ian has been taking pics
of all sorts of things natural since he got his first camera in 1960,
purchased from his very first pay packet. Retirement has provided
more time to indulge his passion for capturing the essence and
wonder of creatures and places in our surroundings and his travels
both inside NZ and abroad have provided plenty of fodder.
Somehow this humble and creative community-minded man
seems to have the eye for catching those amazing moments of
extreme beauty. Ian’s book ‘Matarangi Moods’ includes easily
recognisable images taken at sites from Opito to Whangapoua
of contrasting scenes ranging from subtle sunrises and calm
harbours to the tempestuousness of a raging storm. His book is
a ‘must have’ if you love our area, and makes a lovely gift. Copies
are available for only $20. Go
r his contact
details to order your copy or to view just a snapshot of his incred-
ible photos from all over our fantastic world.
A wide selection
of native plants
• A wide selection of native plants
• The largest range of fruit trees, large & small, peninsula-wide
• Well hardened, quality bedding plants
• A fantastic variety of herbs
• Potting mixes, compost, mulches, peat, pea straw, organic
mixes, seed raising mix, orchid mix
• Fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides
328 Ngati Maru Highway
•
Thames
•
07-868 7960
Aeroview
FOR ALL YOUR GARDENING NEEDS
PEN I NSULA WI DE
Plenty of parking • Open 7 days 8:30 - 5:30
• The largest range of fruit trees,
large and small ... peninsula-wide
• Well hardened, quality bedding plants
• A fantastic variety of herbs
• Potting mixes, compost, mulches, peat, pea straw,
organic mixes, seed raising mix, orchid mix
• Fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides
• Ceramic pots, hanging baskets and lots, lots more
• A great gift shop
• Qualified, knowledgable staff
THE SWEET STUFF
BLOSSOM FLAVOURED HONEY
The unique flavours of NZ are transferred into the honey we produce as
the plants the nectar originates from are often found nowhere else in the
world. Honey that originates exclusively from a single plant is termed
monofloral and is especially desirable. Multifloral honey is a mixture of
many types of nectar usually from pasture or ‘bush’ blends.
“NZ is extremely lucky as we easily have the finest selection of native
endemic honeys on the planet, which all eclipse the quality and taste
of honeys traditionally produced in other countries,” says Paul Berry of
Sanctuary Honey, produced in several locations on the Coromandel.
“Some examples of NZ endemic single varietal honeys are: Manuka,
Rewarewa, Kamahi, Pohutakawa, Towai, Tawari, and Rata. NZ once
produced the only flax honey in the world when the Thames Ngatea
plains were vast swamps of flax, but sadly flax honey is now unavailable
as the land was cleared for farming. The most unusual honey would be
mangrove, which appears fluorescent green in colour and smells like
vomit.”
Eeeewww!
NZ’s clean green reputation is carried along with our honey, unequalled
in nutrient quality and medicinal value (see sidebar about the medicinal
Manuka honey), and exported around the world. Demand currently
outweighs supply and international honey prices are high right now,
making beekeeping profitable. However, we must work hard to preserve
our environment and support the little buzzers to ensure the NZ ‘brand’
is protected.
