About Us
Humble Beginnings
The honey bee is a small yet mighty creature and Marshwood Apiaries has been respecting its powers since 1980.
Marshwood was established in 2010, but founder Alan Reid, has been beekeeping since 1980. Back then, his humble business harvested clover honey. Ironically, Mānuka honey was something to be avoided – it held little value and threatened to darken the pure white of the clover. Mānuka was simply fed back to the bees or livestock.
A new partnership
In the spring of 2010, Alan was approached to see if bees might be a viable career for an enterprising young bloke and his pregnant wife. The timing was right, Alan had turned 60 and was looking to ease up. With a simple handshake and a promise to work hard, Richard Kidd joined Marshwood Apiaries.
The master and his apprentice made a great team. Under Alan’s watchful eye, Richard’s knowledge grew and beekeeping became his calling. Over a period of six months, he laboured for free to prove his worth. Before long, with wife Autumn’s blessing, they spent their entire lifesavings on a 4WD vehicle and 20 beehives. Next up, he convinced Alan he was ready to buy into the business.
Gradually as wisdom and trust expanded, Alan took more of a backseat role. He encouraged Richard’s enthusiasm to fast track the business from 400 beehives and one staff member, to 1,500+ hives and a qualified team of five and growing.
On to the future
In November 2019, Richard bought the remaining 50% of the business. But Alan is never far away should a tricky issue arise, he lives across the road from Marshwood and continues to mentor this ingenious business owner.
Marshwood exists to supply outstanding honey, to build great relationships with landowners where its bees forage, and to get to know every customer who provides honey for the factory floor.
Richard and the team believe it is a privilege to create such a naturally potent and exciting product. For an intricate trade, it’s a simple philosophy really… work hard and respect the bees, environment, landowner and product.
Marshwood exists to supply outstanding honey, to build great relationships with landowners where its bees forage, and to get to know every customer who provides honey for the factory floor. Richard and the team believe it is a privilege to create such a naturally potent and exciting product.
Our story today
Marshwood Apiaries has become a well-known and respected participant in the New Zealand honey and beekeeping industry.
The business has grown tenfold since 2010 and honey extraction volumes have doubled in the past 24 months. But Marshwood’s strength will always lie in personal relationships. From the private landowners where our hives reside, to the customers who bring their product to the factory door, to the dedicated team at the helm – the focus is friendship, professionalism and a promise that every drop of honey is in expert hands.
A rich heritage and entrepreneurial spirit has put Marshwood in good stead for the future. Pollination contracts are tightly secured, honey extraction is booming, the honey supply arm is growing, and a dedicated team is ready to explore every new idea and opportunity.
As a considerate business, Marshwood give-back to the local community. Honey is gifted to Mangawhai Beach School, Mangawhai Voluntary Surf Lifesaving Club and the Kaiwaka Sports Centre. Employment prospects are provided to locals wherever possible, and sustainable business practices are a priority across the operations.
From early days as a cottage business, to becoming a strong contributor to the overall honey volume in New Zealand, Marshwood has enjoyed rapid growth. It’s an exciting time for Richard and the team, but they will never forget the unsung heroes of their success – the queen, the drone, and every single worker bee.