Our Māori ancestors are the first people who discover and utilise Mānuka. They arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand by Waka (canoe voyages) at some time between 1250 and 1300 A.D., or even earlier dates back to 800 A.D. which is still a mystery. Māori people built up 15 per cent of current New Zealand population and they are the first residents who introduced flourished horticulture that using plants to Aotearoa New Zealand. Mānuka perhaps is one of the most important native plants in New Zealand. Maori had a long relationship with Mānuka and have found an astonishing amount of uses for food, medicine, weapon to and all manner of tools and artefacts. The story between Māori and Mānuka is even more robust when we are reviewing the extraordinary distribution of this plant (Read more about how ancestral Māori use Mānuka). During Captain Cook’s voyages around New Zealand, he made tea by boiled leaves of Manuka. And then European settlers started to adopt this practice and call it “Tea tree”. Northland missionary Sister Bumby is the first to introduce bees to New Zealand, she took a couple of hives from England in March 1839. Also brought by Richard Taylor, William Cotton, Lady Hobson in 1843. In 1860s Māori are the indigenous beekeepers using feral honeybee colonies and spread in North Island and contributed plenty pollination and horticultural services. Since 1880s New Zealand homemade honeys export to Britain and rest of Europe under irregular supply. The earliest recorded commercial apiary was Waikato Honey in Te Awamutu established by Clements Family in 1905. Between 1907 and 1930, there were dozens of commercial apiaries grew faster throughout both North and South Island. In Waikato and Auckland area Pohutukawa (known as Christmas tree in New Zealand) and amber strong flavoured Mānuka Honey crops were estimated 600 tons annually. At the time co-operative associations were major buyer and graded honey based on colour. During the war time the entire New Zealand apicultural industry was facing worst crops and high tax (Seals Levy). Manipulated by HPA (Honey Producers' Association),Honey Control Board, HMA (Honey Marketing Authority), beekeepers and beehives increased dramatically after Second World War. Producers’ levy and Hive Levy subsequently introduced until 1978 private bulk exports were permitted, the New Zealand apiculture was shaping into one of the most flourishing industry of Aotearoa New Zealand.