Aotearoa group not appealing lost mānuka honey case

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The Mānuka Charitable Trust argued that the honey was a taonga and that only honey produced in New Zealand should be called mānuka (file photo).
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Australian honey interests opposed the move and this was recently upheld by the Intellectual Property Office (IPONZ).

The Mānuka Charitable Trust argued that the honey was a taonga and that only honey produced in New Zealand should be called mānuka.

Trust chairperson Pita Tipene said while it would not appeal on the technicalities of the decision, this was not the end of its efforts to protect mānuka in Aotearoa and overseas.

“We have an irrefutable role as kaitiaki (guardians) to protect the mana, mauri, and value of our taonga species, including mānuka on behalf of all New Zealanders and will continue to do so today and for future generations.

“With continued support for this kaupapa from iwi, industry and government, we will fight to protect our reo Māori (language) and the precious taonga (treasure) to protect what is ours on behalf of all New Zealanders and consumers who demand and value authenticity. We are considering our next steps and will provide further updates,” said Tipene.

The trust is supported by the Mānuka Honey Appellation Society, the Unique Mānuka Factor Honey Association, Apiculture New Zealand and industry participants.

UMF Honey Association chairperson Rob Chemaly said despite the IPONZ ruling, the industry maintained its international customers who had bought mānuka honey over the past 20 years.

”They know that authenticity is linked to origin: Mānuka is a Māori word originating from Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s unique to us and that’s what sets our products apart from the rest,” Chemaly said.

Tipene said the industry believed it was not appropriate for honey producers in other countries to use the name.

Although the ruling from IPONZ did not support this view, the New Zealand and European Union (EU) Free Trade Agreement included the recognition of mānuka as a Māori word and mānuka honey as a separate tariff line, recognising mānuka as a taonga species exclusively from Aotearoa, he said.

The trust said the lack of recognition of indigenous rights in the intellectual property regime was unfortunate.

It said the New Zealand government should take urgent action to address these issues, which have been raised in the Wai 262 claim and recognised in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.