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TRANSCRIPT
GROWING MANUKAUTILISING LIFESTYLE BLOCKS AND MARGINAL LAND IN THE TARARUA DISTRICT
CONTENTS
What is Mānuka 02
Botanically speaking 05
History 06
Mānuka in Tararua 08
Comparing Mānuka and Radiata Pine 09
Establishing a Mānuka woodlot 10
Growing Mānuka for honey 12
Growing Mānuka for oil 16
Growing for wood 20
Risks 20
Help for growing Mānuka 21
Acknowledgements 24
1
WHAT IS MANUKA
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THE TREEMānuka is a prolific scrub-type tree synonymous with the New Zealand bush and the great outdoors. It is often one of the first species of tree to regenerate on cleared land and grows, on average, to a height of 5m; not to be confused with Kānuka that can reach up to 15m.
THE FORESTIn more recent times, Mānuka has staked its claim to be seriously considered as a cultivated plantation forest tree. It has become an attractive alternative to growing pine trees on marginal land as lifestyle block owners consider the cost of harvesting pine compared to the cost of harvesting Mānuka. The varied range of marketing opportunities Mānuka affords also adds to its viability as a plantation alternative.
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THE USESMānuka delivers three main products:
Mānuka honey is in demand around the world for its health and medical benefits. Its unique antibacterial qualities are reasserting themselves in a post penicillin, post antibiotic era. These qualities are being utilised in professional wound care around the world and in a diverse range of other medical and veterinary uses. The honey itself, with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, is taking its place as a ‘super’ health food.
Mānuka oil has a high level of antibacterial activity (particularly against gram positive organisms) and low toxicity. Its antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties
find a variety of uses within the pharmaceutical and medical industries. It is also used widely in aromatherapy and in the cosmetics industry. Note that the triketones which give Mānuka oil its antibacterial properties occur only in the variety of Mānuka from the northern side of the East Cape.
Mānuka wood does not perhaps have the same marketing potential as Mānuka honey and Mānuka oil, but you will hard pressed to find a tougher tool handle than one crafted from Mānuka. It is also sought after as firewood because it burns hot and long and the hardness of the wood makes it ideal for carving. Additionally, Mānuka sawdust, shavings and chip imparts a delicious flavour when used for smoking meats and fish.
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BOTANICALLY SPEAKING
The botanical name for Mānuka is Leptospermum scoparium. Its common names include the Māori Mānuka and tea-tree. It is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae and is native to New Zealand and southeast Australia.
Mānuka is evergreen with dense branching and small leaves. The flowers are mostly white (sometimes pink) and small, single blooms between 8–15mm in diameter with five petals.
Mānuka is often confused with the closely related Kānuka. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two species in the field is to feel their foliage – Mānuka leaves are prickly, while Kānuka leaves are soft. Also, Kānuka flowers grow in clusters, not single blooms like Mānuka and the seed pods are not retained on Kānuka but remain on Mānuka into the next season.
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HISTORY
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Evidence suggests that Leptospermum scoparium originated in Australia before the onset of the Miocene aridity and dispersed relatively recently from eastern Australia to New Zealand. It is likely that on arrival in New Zealand, Leptospermum scoparium became established in limited edaphically suitable areas until the arrival of Polynesians, whose fire and forest-clearing brought about the low-nutrient-status soils for which it was pre-adapted in its homeland. It is now found throughout New Zealand, but is particularly common on the drier east coasts of the North and South Islands.
Mānuka is an excellent colonizer of bare ground. As a result, for many years it was thought of as a weed on agricultural land. Sprouting Mānuka seeds start the first part of the process of succession, the juvenile plants taking bare grassland eventually to full mature forest. The Mānuka trees provide shade and shelter and an ideal growing habitat for other, more dominant native tree species. These larger trees will eventually take over from Mānuka. In some situations (eg swampland or nutrient-deficient soils) it is the only species of tree that can grow, so remains as permanent forest in these places.
Today of course, as a source of in-demand Mānuka honey and oil, the Mānuka tree has shed its ‘weed’ status and has become a viable crop in its own right – both in its wild state and in domesticated plantations – turning marginal land into a productive asset for both lifestyle block owners and forest developers.
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MANUKA IN TARARUA
The Tararua District, sitting to the east of the Tararua and Ruahine divide, is no stranger to the Mānuka tree. A source of readily available marginal land, a mecca for lifestyle block owners and a council that is eager to assist in the development of a Mānuka industry within the district, Tararua is ideally situated to take advantage of the worldwide demand for Mānuka honey and oil.
Our marginal land is an asset. New Zealand’s Mānuka honey industry is in a major expansion phase, driven by huge international growth in demand for Mānuka honey. While demand is growing rapidly, the industry is constrained by shortages in supply. Beekeepers and honey producers desperately need more Mānuka-rich sites for their hives and non-Mānuka sites to store hives on for the rest of the year.
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COMPARING MANUKA & RADIATA PINE
Both Mānuka and Radiata Pine trees are occupiers of marginal land and have a growth cycle of around 30 years.
As the costs of harvesting pine increase - especially with ever-increasing safety requirements - the attraction of turning to Mānuka also increases.
Studies suggest that if pine is grown on marginal land that is 100km or more away from the mill or port, the financial returns are likely to be minimal, and in some cases negative.
Pine gives a return only at harvest after 25-30 years whereas Mānuka give a honey and oil return throughout the growing cycle.
9
ESTABLISHING A MANUKA WOODLOT
Wild Mānuka grows freely and abundantly on land throughout the Tararua District. There are stands on large blocks and small lifestyle units all of which offer the opportunity to harvest honey, oil and wood.
When it comes to plantation growing of Mānuka trees for the harvesting of honey it is estimated that a plantation can be established on marginal land for between $2,000 and $2,500 per hectare, depending on tree stock used and other cost related factors assuming an establishment target of 1,100 stems/Ha.
Research is currently being carried out on establishment systems and costs.
LAND USE CHANGE GRANT MONIESThere are grants available for change of land use projects, such as turning marginal land into Mānuka forest.
Contacts that can help you investigate these grants include:
Tararua District Council [email protected]
Horizons Regional Council [email protected]
Ministry for Primary Industries [email protected]
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SOURCING TREESTrees to plant can be sourced from a number of commercial nurseries. Among these are:
Kauri Park Nurseries www.kauriparknurseries.co.nz
Forest Floor www.forestfloor.co.nz/ff/manuka.htm
For further help in sourcing trees and establishing a Mānuka woodlot, contact;
Woodnet Email: [email protected] Phone: 06 370 2068 Address: PO Box 758 Higgins Complex, Waingawa State Highway 2 Masterton 5840
11
GROWING MANUKA FOR HONEY
Active Mānuka honey has scientifically proven health properties.
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PROPERTIES OF MANUKA HONEYFor centuries, honey has been known to have broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, and has been used to treat a variety of ailments. This medicinal value is believed to come from features such as honey’s acidity (low pH), high sugar concentration and the presence of bacteriostatic and bactericidal compounds such
as hydrogen peroxide, antioxidants, lysozyme, polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and bee peptides. The major contribution to the antibacterial activity in honeys in general is hydrogen peroxide, referred to as honey’s ‘peroxide activity’ (PA) – total activity (TA).
WHAT GIVES MANUKA HONEY ITS VALUEUniquely, Mānuka honey has antibacterial activity that is not due to hydrogen peroxide. This is referred to as non-peroxide activity (NPA). The medical importance of this is because hydrogen peroxide is rapidly destroyed by an enzyme that is in blood, other body tissues and in saliva. This enzyme activity markedly decreases the antibacterial potency of all other types of honey but Mānuka honey keeps its full activity when applied to an open wound or put in the mouth.
The antibacterial component of active Mānuka honey has been identified as methylglyoxal (MGO). Mānuka nectar contains the precursor of MGO, dihydroxyacetone (DHA).
The greater levels of DHA, the greater levels of MGO produced in mature
Mānuka honey. The higher the levels of MGO in the honey, the more effective the medicinal uses.
The nectar itself contains no detectable levels of MGO; however, once the bees have produced the honey, the MGO appears and increases as the honey is stored under monitored conditions.
Active Mānuka honey (ie Mānuka honey with an MGO content higher than 260mg/kg) is produced when hives are placed where it is mainly Mānuka nectar that is collected by the bees. When other sources of nectar are collected it dilutes the content of Mānuka nectar and thus decreases the level of MGO. The MGO level determines the price on the international market.
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The proportion of Mānuka nectar in the honey is the major determinant of the level of MGO achieved, but some of the difference is due to some varieties of Mānuka trees having a higher level of DHA in their nectar than others. High concentrations of DHA have the potential to produce Mānuka honey with higher MGO concentration.
For marketing purposes levels of MGO is rated, or the NPA is rated. UMF – Unique Mānuka Factor is a trademark that is used by some companies that was used to show NPA but now is used as an index of the MGO content. The higher the MGO/NPA/UMF the greater the value of the honey – both financially and medicinally.
BEST SPECIES TO GROWIt is uncertain whether it is the Mānuka stock itself, the soil type, apiary management or other factors that produce the higher levels of DHA in Mānuka nectar.
Research is on-going and Mānuka nurseries can help with the sourcing of trees that produce higher levels of DHA in the nectar.
SAMPLE RETURNSEach forest owner needs to work out the best option for income from the honey produced from their Mānuka trees.
Owners can run their own beekeeping operation and can expect an average of 23 kilograms of Mānuka honey per hive with an anticipated gross income of around $500-$1,400* a year. The cost of beekeeping is around half of this, so a net $250-$500* per hive per year could be expected.
*One hive per hectare of Mānuka forest is the standard population density of the hives.
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MARKETING ASSISTANCEFor further information and for assistance in the growing, harvesting and marketing of Mānuka honey, contact the Economic Development and Communications Team at the Tararua District Council.
Tararua District Council Email: [email protected] Web: www.tararuadc.govt.nz Phone: 06 374 4080 Address: 26 Gordon Street PO Box 115, Dannevirke 4942
New Zealand Mānuka Ltd Email: [email protected] Web: www.nzmanukadirect.com Phone: 07 308 0428 Address: 525b State Highway 30 Awakeri, Whakatane, New Zealand
Woodnet Email: [email protected] Web: www.woodnet.co.nz Phone: 06 370 2068 Address: PO Box 758 Higgins Complex, Waingawa State Highway 2, Masterton 5840
Steens Honey Email: [email protected] Web: www.steensnewzealand.com Phone: 06 370 2900 Address: 298 Manaia Road, RD5, Masterton
Also, talk to local beekeepers about making your Mānuka stand available as a hive site. More information is available from the Tararua District Council’s GO! Project.
If the owner does not wish to establish their own beekeeping operation they can negotiate a contractual arrangement with an established beekeeper. This arrangement may be a royalty on the gross income produced from the hive of say between 10%* and 35%* - or it could be a flat rental of say $50* per hive.
*These figures are estimates only and have been gleaned from various reports listed in the appendices. Demand for Mānuka honey, and thus the prices it fetches, can be expected to rise.
15
GROWING MANUKA FOR OIL
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While most of the news around Mānuka centres on the medicinal powers of Mānuka honey, Mānuka oil is also endowed with medicinal benefits that have been used down through history.
THE PROPERTIES OF MANUKA OILThe antibacterial properties of Mānuka oil arise from the low levels of Pinenes and Myrcene and the high levels of Triketones, Flavesone, Isoleptospermone and Leptospermone. This mix gives Mānuka oil a high level of antimicrobial activity against gram positive organisms such as staphylococcus and streptococcus. It also has a wide range of antifungal activity.
Its medicinal uses extend to general skin, hair and foot care. It is used in critical care environments – eg where staphylococcus and streptococcus are a major concern and burns are a factor.
It also has wide use in aromatherapy and in the cosmetic industry. It also has an application in the dairy industry. Lab tests show the oil to be very effective against the bacteria that cause mastitis, and as it is not an antibiotic the farmers do not need to quarantine their cows.
SPECIES TO GROWThe chemical make-up (chemotypes) of Mānuka oils varies between different New Zealand locations. The reason for the variation in chemotypes is currently unknown. However, Triketone enriched oils are localised to the East Cape region and have most potent antimicrobial characteristics.
If planting specifically for oil production, some essential contacts for settling on the best stock are New Zealand Mānuka Bioactives or New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd (details on page 19).
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HARVESTING MANUKA FOR OILHarvesting is done by hand or machine. The foliage that is removed is then steam distilled to extract the oil. The trees have such vigorous growth they just keep on resprouting. The best oil comes from the older growth. Mānuka can be harvested any time of year but by cutting after the flowering season, the bees can also have access to the trees for the production of honey.
SAMPLE RETURNSA stand of Mānuka trees could produce two to three tonne of foliage per hectare per year on a managed basis.
About 50 kilos of Mānuka foliage yields a minimum of 500mls of oil.
Mānuka oil can fetch up to $500 - $600 per kilogram; oil production costs are in the region of $420 - $450/kg of oil.
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MARKETING ASSISTANCEFor further information and for assistance in the growing, harvesting and marketing of Mānuka oil, contact the Economic Development and Communications Team at the Tararua District Council.
Tararua District Council Email: [email protected] Web: www.tararuadc.govt.nz 26 Gordon Street PO Box 115 Dannevirke 4942 Phone: 06 374 4080
New Zealand Mānuka Bioactives Email: [email protected] Web: www.manukaoil.com PO Box 350 Opotiki, 3162 New Zealand Phone: 07 315 7663
New Zealand Mānuka Ltd 525b State Highway 30 Awakeri, Whakatane New Zealand Phone: 07 308 0428
New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd Private Bag 50034 Mosgiel, New Zealand http://maxa.maf.govt.nz/sff/about-projects/search/00-200/00200-finalreport.pdf
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GROWING FOR WOOD
Mānuka timber is ideal for firewood as it is very hot and long burning.
The timber is also renowned for its strength and has long been used in the production of tool handles.
MARKETING ASSISTANCEFor further information and for assistance in the growing, harvesting and marketing of Mānuka timber, contact the Economic Development and Communications Team at the Tararua District Council.
Tararua District Council 26 Gordon Street PO Box 115 Dannevirke 4942 Phone: 06 374 4080 Email: [email protected] Web: www.tararuadc.govt.nz
Also, talk with local firewood suppliers who may harvest the timber at a negotiated contract rate.
RISKSThe effect of fertiliser applied to plantation Mānuka is unknown. Trees can also be susceptible to Mānuka stem borer and Sooty mould.
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HELP FOR GROWING MANUKA
THE GO! PROJECTThe GO! Project is a Tararua District Council initiative that has identified several crop options that are highly suitable for the Tararua District. The aim of the project is to provide meaningful information for people wanting to diversify their cropping and broaden their potential revenue base.
The information is intended for smallholders, lifestyle block owners and farmers looking for alternatives to traditional crop options, offering the Tararua District community increased opportunities for job creation, biodiversity, sustainable farming systems and increased family business incomes.
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The Council’s Economic Development Team is the driving force behind the GO! Project and are extremely encouraged by the positive response to the initiative.
Ten years ago, Council undertook an in-depth study on land use, documenting soil, climate, and topographic information in the Tararua District. The aim of the study was to discover how best to use land, particularly areas which are under utilised.
Thirty-seven highly detailed maps have been produced showing district-wide annual rainfall, crop options and optimal planting areas for high-yield, high-return crops, which would work for the Tararua District. These include, among others, truffles, hazelnuts, saffron, feijoas, flax and Mānuka. The initial study has been followed by market research focusing on mixed market, returns per acre and mixed farming capability.
The GO! Project initiative has travelled outside the district to events such as Mystery Creek and Central District Field Days. The GO! Project is something that gives all landowners, whether they have a couple of acres or a couple of hundred acres, an opportunity to consider diversification on either a small scale or large basis.
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A copy of the ‘Alternative Crops Suitable for Tararua District’ report that kicked off the GO! Project is available on is available for download from the Tararua District Council website www.tararuadc.govt.nz
If you are interested, please contact the Economic Development Team at [email protected]
They can link you to the required expertise when it comes to sourcing trees for plantation growing, harvesting honey and harvesting oil. Council can also put you in touch with marketing organisations and grower support networks.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Tararua District Council acknowledges the information sources used in the compilation of this booklet, including:
The Mānuka Workshop handouts
1. A major forest product opportunity for New Zealand Landowners – Stuart Orme, Woodnet.
2. The Mānuka Miracle – Peter Molan, University of Waikato
3. The Miere Coalition Story, Victor Goldsmith, Kaiaka Consulting
4. Mānuka: A Bankable Proposition – Gordon McCallum, ANZ Bank
5. Growing Mānuka for Farm Foresters – Julian Bateson, NZ Tree Grower May 2014
These documents are all available from Tararua District Council.
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Websites gleaned for information:Woodnet www.woodnet.co.nz
Organic NZ www.organicnz.org.nz/node/136
New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research Ltd http://maxa.maf.govt.nz/sff/about-projects/search/00-200/00200-finalreport.pdf
New Zealand Mānuka Bioactives www.manukaoil.com
Analytica Laboratories www.analytica.co.nz/lab-testing-services/honey-testing/dha-and-mg-explained/
Kauri Park Nurseries www.kauriparknurseries.co.nz
Forest Floor www.forestfloor.co.nz/ff/manuka.htm
New Zealand Mānuka Ltd www.nzmanukadirect.com
Honey Centre www.honeycentre.com
Steens Honey www.steensnewzealand.com
Our thanks, for proofing and for being listed as contacts for potential growers, to:
• New Zealand Mānuka Bioactives
• Murray Redpath, NZ Mānuka Ltd
• Stuart Orme, Woodnet
• Peter Molan, University of Waikato
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Contact us 24 Hours, 7 Days06 374 4080 (North) or 06 376 0110 (South)
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