The Monarch of New Zealand Honey
Pure New Zealand Honey – From Our Family to Yours
At Black Shepherd Apiaries, we produce high-quality, small-batch New Zealand honey straight from our own hives. From clover to manuka, every jar is raw, pure, and packed with the goodness of nature.
We believe in keeping things simple, natural, and local. Whether it’s the floral sweetness of clover or the medicinal richness of manuka, our honey is unprocessed and full of the natural goodness nature intended.
We’re not just beekeepers. We’re caretakers of the land, the bees, and our community. From our home in the upper North Island, we manage every step of the process ourselves – from hive to harvest, packaging to promotion. That means when you buy from Black Shepherd Apiaries, you know exactly where your honey comes from and who stands behind it.
Always Sweet
Beyond our products, we are committed to sustainability and community engagement. We offer pollination services to support local agriculture and fundraising opportunities to help organisations raise money while promoting bee conservation.
At Black Shepherd Apiaries, our work with bees connects us to the wider ecosystem and the people who depend on it. By supporting healthy hives, we help local growers produce thriving crops, strengthen biodiversity, and maintain the natural balance our food system relies on.
We also believe in giving communities the tools to make a difference. Our fundraising programs are a sweet way for schools, clubs, and community groups to reach their goals while sharing a message that matters, one that supports local businesses, bee awareness, and environmental care.
And for those who want to get even closer to the magic, our beekeeping experiences offer a hands-on way to learn about hive life and the incredible work of the honeybee.
Explore our services and book today — whether you’re a grower, a group, or just curious about bees, we’d love to work with you.
Rooted in Passion. Crafted with Purpose.
Black Shepherd Apiaries was founded in December 2018 by husband-and-wife team Ben and Robyn Stinson. With over 12 years of beekeeping experience under their belts, Ben and Robyn were driven by a simple but powerful idea: to offer authentic, small-batch honey from their own hives, made with integrity and care.
Starting as a family venture, the business has grown steadily thanks to a deep commitment to quality, sustainability, and the bees themselves. Today, Black Shepherd honey is enjoyed by customers across New Zealand and beyond—and every drop still comes from the same philosophy that started it all: honest food, made by hand, with love for the land.
Why Choose Black Shepherd Honey?
100% New Zealand made
Family-owned and operated
Fully traceable and sustainably produced
Packed under strict food safety standards
Raw and unpasteurized—preserving natural enzymes and nutrients
Unique native varietals you won’t find anywhere else
Ethical business practices that support people, pollinators, and the planet
Whether you’re a honey lover, a conscious shopper, or simply curious about where your food comes from, we invite you to explore our range and taste the difference for yourself. Support local beekeeping, protect our pollinators, and enjoy honey the way nature intended – raw, pure, and straight from the hive.
Browse our collection today and bring a little bit of New Zealand’s goodness into your home.
Naturally Good
At Black Shepherd Apiaries, we believe nature gets it right, and our job is to keep it that way. Naturally good is the standard we live by. From our bees to your kitchen, every part of our process is about preserving the natural quality of our honey, protecting the environment, and delivering a product that is as pure as possible.
Our honey is made the traditional way. Our bees forage freely on clover, wildflowers, and native trees like manuka, rewarewa, and tawari across New Zealand’s North Island. Each floral source gives our honey its own unique flavour, colour, and texture. We gently extract it without applying high heat or heavy filtration. That means every jar keeps its natural enzymes, antioxidants, and pollen, so you get the full benefits and taste that real honey should offer.
Everything we produce is raw, traceable to its source, and packed in small batches. We meet New Zealand’s strict food safety standards, while keeping our approach simple and hands-on. Nothing is added, and nothing important is taken away.
Being naturally good also means respecting the land we work on. Our hives are placed in remote, clean areas in partnership with landowners who care about sustainability. We offer reusable refill options for our liquid wildflower honey and make use of every resource, including crafting beeswax candles from leftover wax. We also support local growers with pollination services and partner with fundraisers that promote bee education and conservation.
Choosing Black Shepherd honey means choosing a product that is good for your health, good for our bees, and good for the future of beekeeping in New Zealand.
