The indigenous Māori of New Zealand have used the unique Mānuka tree for centuries. Along with many indigenous people around the world the land, forests and oceans produced everything they needed for food, clothing and healing.
The Māori used many traditional remedies when dealing with common complaints such as respiratory infections, coughs, colds, burns, stomach ailments, and pain. “Mānuka bark infusions were historically used as a sedative, to treat stomach ailments, and to bring relief from urinary problems. Balms were made of the ash and gum to treat scalds and burns. The vapour of the boiled leaves was used to treat coughs and colds.[i]”
Many of the traditional remedies of the Māori people have been passed down through the centuries. Especially the many uses of the Mānuka tree. Mānuka honey is perhaps the most famous product of this special and utterly unique tree.
Additionally, the Mānuka tree is an integral part of New Zealand’s forests and bush. It typically grows to about 7-15 feet, providing the perfect understory protection needed for the flora, fauna and the giant Kauri, Kahikatea, Rātā, Tōtara, and Remu trees.
With the arrival of Europeans in 1769, specifically Captain James Cook an early explorer, they were quick to learn from the Māori the many uses of the Mānuka bush. Captain James Cook and the two naturalists on his crew, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, were instrumental in documenting the fascinating Māori culture, the abundance of natural resources, along with the unique native flora and fauna[ii]. The Māori had an extensive knowledge of the islands coasts and interior.
As a side note, Dutch explorer Abel Tasman had sighted New Zealand in 1642 and tried to go ashore in Golden Bay but was fought off by the Māori, so never made it to land. After that encounter a Dutch map maker named the islands “Nieuw Zeeland”.
Of course, New Zealand had long been inhabited before any European explorer had even thought of venturing that far into the South Pacific. It is thought that it was probably in the 13th century that Polynesian navigators had ventured south from the tropical Pacific. These early explorers are the ancestors of New Zealand’s Māori people. You can see today the many similarities between the Polynesian peoples of the Pacific Ocean[iii].
Fast forward to 1997 and Mānuka honey producers, scientists and researchers came together to pioneer the science of what makes this Mānuka honey so unique.
“Today the Unique Mānuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) continues to strive for excellence. As an independent organization, working with specialists around the world, we uphold standards for mānuka honey and certify the unique compounds and quality in every batch of mānuka honey that carries UMF™ certification”[iv].
This is a link to a short video about the history
History of Mānuka Honey in New Zealand
[i] https://www.umf.org.nz/nz-manuka-honey/the-history-of-manuka-honey/
[ii] https://teara.govt.nz/en/european-discovery-of-new-zealand
[iii] https://teara.govt.nz/en/european-discovery-of-new-zealand/page-1
[iv] https://www.umf.org.nz/about-umfha/
