Is All Manuka Honey from New Zealand? (2026)
Information in this article shouldn't be considered medical advice. If you are considering taking manuka honey, propolis, royal jelly or bee pollen for their health benefits and are currently taking medication, please consult your doctor first.
Where the Manuka Plant Grows
The term Manuka refers to plants in the genus Leptospermum, a group of shrubs and small trees native to parts of the South Pacific. Leptospermum scoparium, the species traditionally associated with Manuka honey, is indigenous to New Zealand and grows widely across both the North and South Islands.
Closely related Leptospermum species also grow in Australia. These species share botanical similarities. As a result, bees in both countries may forage on Leptospermum plants and produce honey that is, in a botanical sense, derived from similar plant groups.
However, recent studies on these various species of Leptospermum been separated and developed differently over 9-12 million years, making them vastly different and on a genetic level could potentially be classified as different species of trees. So the resulting manuka honey originating from Australia isn’t the same as official manuka honey originating from New Zealand.
Legal Definitions of Origin
The country of origin for honey is determined by where the honey is produced, meaning where bees collect nectar, where the honey is made, and where it is harvested. For New Zealand honey, this requires that bees forage within New Zealand and that extraction occurs domestically.
In New Zealand, Manuka honey is further defined through a government-established scientific definition administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). This definition specifies a combination of chemical markers and DNA evidence that must be present for honey to be classified as New Zealand Manuka honey.
The MPI Manuka definition was introduced to provide a consistent, science-based framework for export verification and to address fraud risk in international trade. The definition itself does not appear on consumer labels and is not a certification mark. Instead, it functions as a regulatory standard that exporters, certification bodies, and independent laboratories must follow when identifying and verifying New Zealand Manuka honey.
Why New Zealand Manuka Is Protected
New Zealand has developed a formal regulatory framework for Manuka honey due to its economic value, vulnerability to misrepresentation, and reliance on export markets that require verifiable origin claims.
The MPI definition supports border control, export certification, and regulatory enforcement rather than consumer marketing. It enables authorities to determine whether honey meets the criteria for export as New Zealand Manuka honey, based on measurable and reproducible evidence.
In addition, New Zealand does not permit the importation of foreign honey. This policy is designed to protect biosecurity, maintain product integrity, and prevent blending that could obscure origin. As a result, any honey classified as New Zealand Manuka must be produced entirely within New Zealand.
Overseas “Manuka” Products Explained
Honey produced outside New Zealand, particularly in Australia, may be labelled as “Manuka” in some markets. This is typically based on the presence of nectar from local Leptospermum species that are botanically distantly related to New Zealand’s Manuka plant.
However, these products are not assessed against New Zealand’s MPI Manuka definition and are not subject to the same chemical marker and DNA verification framework. There is currently no single, internationally harmonised definition of Manuka honey that applies across countries.
As a result, the term “Manuka” may be defined differently across jurisdictions. This difference does not automatically indicate equivalence or inferiority, but it does mean that products labelled “Manuka” may be defined, tested, and regulated in materially different ways.
There is also continuous debate whether the term “manuka”, a Māori word for the tree, can or should be applied to honey derived from other Leptospermum species in other countries.
Is “Manuka” a Protected Term?
The word “Manuka” itself is not globally protected as a geographic indication or exclusive term. Its use on labels is generally governed by local food labelling laws rather than by a single international naming authority.
In practice, protection operates through regulatory definitions and export controls rather than ownership of the name. In New Zealand, the MPI Manuka definition determines whether honey can be identified and exported as New Zealand Manuka honey. Outside New Zealand, the same term may be used under different botanical or regulatory interpretations.
This distinction explains why products with the same name may be subject to different standards, without implying that one system governs all uses of the term worldwide.
What Country-of-Origin Labels Reveal
Country-of-origin labelling indicates where the honey was produced, not the testing system applied to it or the standards used to define it. Labels such as “Product of New Zealand” or “Product of Australia” describe geographic origin but do not, on their own, explain how Manuka status was determined.
In some cases, honey containing New Zealand Manuka may be exported in bulk and blended or packed overseas. While New Zealand does not allow the importation of foreign honey, other countries may permit blending within their own borders under local labelling laws. In such cases, origin statements must be carefully read, as they may reflect the processing location rather than the full production origin.
Manuka honey packed overseas from bulk manuka honey exported from New Zealand is not subject to the same level of authentication and control of finished product that occurs for manuka honey produced and packed in New Zealand.
Understanding origin labels requires attention to both the stated country and the regulatory context behind that statement.
Definition, Certification, and What Appears on Labels
It is important to distinguish between regulatory definitions, certification systems, and consumer-facing labels. In New Zealand, the MPI Manuka definition sets the scientific criteria that honey must meet to be recognised as Manuka for export purposes.
Independent certification systems and laboratory testing frameworks may be used to verify that honey meets these criteria. These systems operate within the boundaries of the MPI definition but are not government endorsements of individual products.
Consumer labels may display certification marks, ratings, or origin statements, but they do not reproduce the full regulatory definition.
Why Origin Matters for Quality and Trust
Origin matters because it determines which definitions, controls, and verification systems apply. New Zealand Manuka honey is subject to a specific regulatory framework that governs its identification and export. This provides a stable reference point for regulators, laboratories, and international authorities.
At the same time, origin alone does not describe taste, composition, or suitability for individual preferences. It does not imply health effects, performance, or value. Its primary role is traceability and accountability within a defined system.
These distinctions are structural and regulatory, rather than commercial or health-related.
