The History of Mānuka Lab - Natural New Zealand Mānuka Honey– Manuka Lab UK

Our History

MANUKA LAB started with a vision: to tell the world about the health benefits of New Zealand’s indigenous super plant, Mānuka


A history built on healthcare

A history built on healthcare

Our story began with Phil & Sharan Caskey, back in the mid 1990’s, who had a vision to have the traditional Māori knowledge of the Mānuka plant recognised as an important and worthwhile resource for world health. Working alongside the University of Waikato in 2000, and a medical device company in the UK, Phil co-created and registered the first Mānuka honey wound care dressing in the world. It wasn’t until then the real qualities and unique benefits of Mānuka honey were first discovered, and introduced to the world.

A history built on healthcare

A partnership with landowners

A partnership with landowners

Understanding the need for landowners to receive a fair return for the use of their land by beekeepers, Phil set about creating a fair and open agreement between the landowners, beekeepers and processing company. This agreement ensures all parties receive an equal share of the profits from all honey sold. This was the first time any business had ever recognised the support of the landowners in this industry who had previously only received a bottle of wine or envelope of cash at the gate.

This is our Fair Share Commitment. 

Caring for nature, is at the heart of everything we do

Caring for nature, is at the heart of everything we do

Ensuring we work with and care for our environment has always been incredibly and inevitably important to us. After all, Mānuka is our precious natural resource. From the moment we step onto the land, we re-use, reduce and recycle to keep our environmental footprint as small as possible.

Caring for nature, is at the heart of everything we do

A local and family-like workplace

A local and family-like workplace

Employing and partnering with local people is one of the most important and wonderful aspects of everything we do and will never stop doing. Together we are working as a community within very small rural communities of the remote coastal regions where our Mānuka trees thrive. Our focus on employing local people has also kept our business very family oriented, even as we continue to grow into a large, global enterprise.

Giving back to our communities

Giving back to our communities

Aside from employment and the associated business opportunities now flourishing around our Mānuka activities, we always support and give back to those in our surrounding communities through sponsorships and donations. People who work with us are also offered training and education, offering them a bright and exciting future with our company.

Giving back to our communities
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