ABOUT US

Arataki Honey was established in Havelock North, Hawkes Bay in 1944 by the late Percy Berry. Later, his sons Ian and Russell joined the business, and over 60 years later, it remains a family-owned enterprise, while also being the biggest beekeeping enterprise in New Zealand. 

The first trucks - Ian & Percy Berry

1940s mobile honey extraction plant

In 1962, Russell moved northwards to establish a branch at Waiotapu near Rotorua. Over the years, the Rotorua division has gone from strength to strength, becoming a major business in its own right, while remaining part of the Arataki Honey family. It operates some 11,000 hives in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions
and 3,000 in Southland.

Arataki's Waiotapu site

The Rotorua operation is still run by Russell in partnership with his wife Annette and son Mark. All three are directors of Arataki Honey Limited. Mark’s son Timothy is already showing an interest in beekeeping,
tending hives of his own.

Annette, Mark and Russell

The Waiotapu business has diversified well beyond honey production. It has been a pioneer in the international sale and transport of packaged bees and queen bees.  Another major component of its business is the provision of hives for pollination of New Zealand’s famous kiwifruit.

GEOTHERMAL STEAM

Arataki's Waiotapu site lies within one of New Zealand’s major geothermal areas, and our Waiotapu site is close by the world-famous Waiotapu Wonderland geothermal area.

Champagne Pool at Waiotapu Wonderland

Arataki has its own geothermal bore producing high pressure steam. Geothermal energy is clean and renewable, and our extensive use of geothermal heat for honey processing and for general heating minimises use of non-renewable energy forms and ensures that our carbon footprint is much lower than would otherwise be the case. 

Russell and Mark Berry inspecting the geothermal bore before it starts to blow

Over the years, we have developed various innovative ways to use the geothermal heat in processing and handling honey and other bee products, and this has attracted international attention in geothermal energy circles. 

PROPOLIS PRODUCTS

Arataki Honey Rotorua is a partner in Arataki Bee Products Ltd, based in Nelson, NZ.  Trading under the brand name Kiwi Island, this company extracts, produces and exports propolis and propolis products. 

Annette Berry

Russell Berry loves his honey!