Sweet or sour deal?
Not all stakeholders involved in the proposed merger of honey industry groups - ApiNZ and Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) combining to form a larger organisation - think the deal is so sweet.
The chair of ApiNZ, Nathan Guy told Rural News that his organisation is no longer financially sustainable because its funding model is based on a voluntary membership. He says as honey returns have dropped so has the membership income that’s meant that the board of ApiNZ have made to make some hard decisions.
“These include reducing staff, relinquishing the office in Wellington and sharing desk with other organisation around the city while still maintaining a real focus on its strategy. A key pillar of this is about creating a united industry which is why we believe it is important to merge with UMFHA and create a new organisation,” he says
Guy says the new organisation will still have a voice for beekeepers on such things as bee health and advocacy to government but by joining up with UMFHA will have a strong export focus. He says the merger makes common sense and the leadership in both organisations can see the value in it – especially have a financially viable entity that will be able to deliver on the industry strategy which is to double the value of honey exports by 2030.
The industry has had a rollercoaster ride over many years with fluctuating prices and some honey simply unsold.
Members of both organisations are now being consulted on the proposal and the intention is to have the new entity in place by April 2025. In the meantime a whole range of issues relating to the proposed merger including membership and governance structure.
