Kai Ora Honey

Manaakitanga in full bloom this week 🐝

We had the privilege of hosting our now-whānau friend Nimit Singh Rocky from India 🇮🇳 of Madhumakhiwala Raw Honey — an engineer turned beekeeper who’s grown Madhumakhiwala into one of India’s leading raw honey names.

Worlds apart, same passion ♥️: saving the bee 🐝 and being good kaitiaki of the earth 🌍.

We gifted Nimit a native rākau to plant here in Ahipara with Kai Ora — roots in our whenua, deepening our futures together. Family first, business second.

We loved his respect for our māmā. Mum is the only NZQA-qualified beekeeper in our whānau (said with pride!), so she and Nimit lit up sharing their experiences and queen-rearing knowledge — both in their element.

His kōrero of how they keep bees in India floored us. No machinery — everything done by hand. They lift and carry their hives on their heads, load them onto boats, and move them across the delta waters by sheer commitment and strength, all while staying clear of the white tigers that prowl those banks (yes, really… 😳). They use what nature provides to shield their hives from the heat and treat disease alternatively with natural remedies.

Was amazing to see that their women extract honey right where it’s gathered, and hand-make over 300,000 candles p.a for Diwali. 🪔

We walked Nimit through our lab too, where he was so impressed by our candles and production — two worlds, the same mahi, the same care.

And the magic? Our youngest, Paea, and Nimit’s son share the very same birthday — both born 2023. Two little ones, two whānau, one road ahead. It’s meant to bee. 🐝

We shared kai and stories late into the night with all our Whanau, plus a beautiful lunch at Ka-Uri — owned by our iwi Ngāti Kurī and managed by our whānau.

People. Place. Product. But always people first. Ngā mihi nui, Nimit — until we meet again. 🤍🐝

It was a pleasure to represent MacDiarmid Institute at the Federation of Māori Authorities (Federation of Māori Authorities) conference and awards — alongside my fellow board members Professor Pauline Harris, Chair Hemi Rolleston & Kristy Doyle — a kaupapa I’m proud to serve.

And what a day and night it was. A few highlights:

The MOU signed between FOMA, led by Traci Houpapa, and the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations — indigenous nations side by side, advancing economic development on our own terms.

The Te Poupoutanga o te Rā sessions, where Annette Sykes was my standout — speaking with a conviction earned through years of lived experience. Loved hearing Chloe Butcher-Herries, Professor Te Taka Keegan and Tangaroa Walker too on Ahuwhenua, AI and Agritech. Amazing Māori doing awesome things.

A privilege to hear Vangelis and Tāne Waetford (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) on Free Trade Agreements and the road ahead for our exports — and to watch Riri Ellis and Annette Sykes both honoured at the awards, so richly deserved.

The night rounded out with a beautiful gala dinner, the wairua of kapa haka, and Minister Todd McClay signalling the potential for a Geographical Indication (GI) framework for Mānuka. Wearing my Te Pitau / Mānuka Charitable Trust hat, this one hit home — huge for Māori, for Wai 262, and for Aotearoa. Our taonga, recognised as ours, protected for those who come after us.

He taonga tuku iho mō ngā uri whakatipu — a treasure handed down, for the generations still to come. 🌿

Inspired, grateful, and proud to be part of this kaupapa. He toa takitini — our strength is collective.