Our Story
Welcome to Black Shepherd Apiaries. Home to pure, small-batch New Zealand honey crafted with care.
Founded in December 2018 by husband-and-wife duo Ben and Robyn Stinson, Black Shepherd Apiaries was born from a deep passion for bees, nature, and creating a truly authentic product that people can trust. With over 12 years of beekeeping experience, we’ve taken our knowledge and love for the craft and turned it into a business that delivers high-quality, natural honey from the hive to your home.
What started as a dream to share New Zealand’s finest honey with the world has grown into a trusted family business producing a wide range of bee-based products. We take pride in upholding the highest standards of care for our bees, our land, and our customers.
Our Process
We manage every step of the journey ourselves. That means we’re not just beekeepers. We’re also the ones who handle harvesting, production, packaging, and marketing, all from our base in the upper North Island of New Zealand.
This hands-on approach allows us to guarantee the quality, authenticity, and traceability of everything we produce. From the moment honey is harvested at the end of summer, it’s tested to MPI standards, packed in a certified food safety facility, and traceable back to the land it came from. No shortcuts. No additives.
Just pure, New Zealand honey.
Beekeeping is more than just a job for us. Bees play an important role in food production and ecosystems, and we are proud to work alongside them. Producing honey that is natural, traceable, and made responsibly is something we take seriously.
Every jar reflects the values that guide our work: care, quality, transparency, and sustainability. As a small family-run business, we are committed to doing things the right way, from the hive to your home.
Taste the Difference
Whether you’re stocking your pantry, sending a gift overseas, or just curious about where great honey comes from, we invite you to try our products and get to know our story. When you choose Black Shepherd Apiaries, you’re supporting New Zealand-made, ethically sourced, and sustainably produced honey.
Thank you for being part of our journey. We’re so glad you’re here.
Our honey wouldn’t be possible without the support and trust of local landowners. Over the years, we’ve built strong relationships across the country, from Northland to Taihape. These partnerships allow us to place our hives in some of New Zealand’s most untouched and pristine locations, including coastal and countryside areas rich in native flora.
We’re proud to work in harmony with nature. Our bees do what they do best while we take every step possible to minimise our environmental impact. Sustainability is a core part of how we operate.
Our sustainability efforts include:
Partnering with suppliers who prioritise eco-friendly practices.
Offering refillable honey options to reduce packaging waste.
Managing healthy hives that support local biodiversity.
Practicing responsible land use and long-term beekeeping methods.
We believe that when you take care of the bees, they take care of us and the planet.
Why We Love What We Do
At Black Shepherd Apiaries, we’re passionate about producing high-quality New Zealand honey. From organic honey to raw, pure varieties like Manuka and Rewarewa, we’re committed to creating products that are as good for the environment as they are for your table. Our love for bees and sustainable practices fuels everything we do, ensuring that every jar of honey is authentic, traceable, and packed with natural goodness. We take pride in offering honey that’s not only delicious but also supports the health of our land and bees.
