Growing More of the Mānuka

Already on Your Land

Maggie Olsen

Research Technician– Massey University

Manuka Research Consortium

What will a mānuka plantation look like?

• A mosaic of cultivars, eco-sourced, and wild trees will create a plantation

population that is:

– locally adapted (where necessary)

– higher quality (where possible)

You may have high quality mānuka already

growing on your land.

Advantages of local population

1. It is adapted to the local climate

2. Flowering time is appropriate

3. Truly local…it is yours!

What is “eco-sourcing”?

• Use of local (native) seed source for propagation

and planting to the same area.

We have adapted this eco-sourcing method to evaluate wild mānuka populations for future plantation establishment

Nectar Quality Test

• DHA quantity gives MGO

potential (UMF rating)

• Sugar content for bee

attractiveness.

Which trees produce the highest quality nectar for

us and for the bees?

• Flower quality and quantity

• Health and vigour

• Tree structure

• High seed production

• Representative sample of population

Which trees are tested?

Need a good consultant!

• No guarantee we find a

high quality nectar

source.

• Limited seed production

• Potentially longer

timeframe

What are the risks of eco-sourcing?

1. ANR: Assisted

Natural Regeneration

2. Wild regeneration

Used in environmental

remediation, not honey

production

Other establishment techniques?

Which path to take?

High performance cultivar

High quality eco-sourced trees

ANR

Higher cost

Lower cost

Higher nectar qualityLower nectar quality

Wild regeneration

What will a mānuka plantation look like?

• A mosaic of cultivars, eco-sourced, and wild trees will create a plantation population that is:– locally adapted (where necessary)

– higher quality (where possible)

• Each site will have a unique plan based on local opportunities

Any questions?

I would like to acknowledge and thank all of

the members and contributors of the Manuka

Research Partnership Ltd. (MRPL) group,

Massey University, and MFNZ