Comvita Visitor Centre wins Tourism Awards

Comvita was lauded at the recent Bartercard Bay of Plenty Tourism Awards 2004. The Comvita Visitor Centre won the Away Laughing Retail and Hospitality Award as well as the Merit Award, sponsored by Western Bay Finance.

Diane Riley, Manager of the Qualmark accredited Comvita Visitor Centre, said her team was really fired up after winning the Retail and Hospitality and the Merit Award: She said: “It’s been a fantastic boost for the staff and the company and it’s great to know that we’re on the right track. Tourism is a very important part of what we do and we are obviously keen to help grow the tourism pie. The sum of the parts is so much greater than the whole. I am really impressed with the caliber of the winning entries and I’m convinced tourism has a bright future in the Bay of Plenty.”

Comvita - Taiwanese Golf Association
Golf Classic 2004

There was strong local involvement as members of the Taiwanese community in New Zealand visited Comvita New Zealand Ltd for the 3rd annual Golf Classic event, now a firm favourite in the Taiwanese Golf Association (TGA) diary.

The TGA members were welcomed at the Comvita Visitor Centre and were enthusiastic about the progress Comvita has made over the past year, including market expansion into Taiwan and China and several exciting new products.

There was strong cooperation with Kiwifruit Country, as the TGA members took the Kiwi Cart ride and dinner and prize giving was held there in the evening. Te Puke Golf Club was the venue for the 18 holes of golf. Altogether there were around 100 people playing, which included 72 Taiwanese and Comvita staff and guests.

The Taiwanese Golf Association enjoyed a memorable day of golf with staff and guests of Comvita New Zealand Limited. This group of keen golfers from Auckland included many distinguished Taiwanese guests.

Bill Bracks,Comvita Chairman and Graeme Boyd, Comvita CEO, welcomed the group followed by Denise Elliot, Technical Manager who introduced the new Comvita Antioxidant and Colostrum product ranges. The Comvita Visitor Centre experience included live bee displays, honey tasting and gourmet Manuka Honey Ice Cream!

Comvita is well established as the premium health company to the Taiwanese and Chinese community in New Zealand. Comvita is located three hours south of Auckland, and is on the way to Rotorua. It is very close to Kiwifruit Country, Longridge Park, the Te Puke Golf Club and several other attractions. The Comvita Visitor Centre is open 7 days from 8.30am to 5.00pm with guided tours at 10.00am and 2.00pm daily.

Comvita wishes to thank the Taiwanese Golf Association for continuing the tradition and making the Golf Classic a success.

News Release
27 September 2004

Comvita Scholarship For East Cape Beekeeper

Natural health products company, Comvita Limited is providing a beekeeper scholarship as part of its commitment to helping develop sound, sustainable beekeeping businesses in the East Cape region.

Peter Te Kani from Potaka, Cape Runaway has moved his family to the Bay of Plenty in order to commence the one-year scholarship with beekeepers Peter and Alison Townsend of Kernow Apiaries.

“I see this as a great opportunity to train with a professional beekeeper, take my new skills back to the East Cape and manage a beekeeping business,” says Te Kani.

“My family is settling in with the help of the scholarship income and my wife Leanne is working for Comvita. It all seems to be falling into place.”

Chris Elmsly, Comvita’s Operation Manager explains, “we have been working with East Cape landowners and interested groups for several years and recognise the importance of training local people, particularly Maori, to take control and manage their valuable manuka resource.”

The East Cape region has been identified as an area with high potential to become a lucrative source of UMF™ (Unique Manuka Factor) medical grade manuka honey.

Scientific research led by Professor Peter Molan of the University of Waikato established that some manuka honey contains powerful unique antibacterial properties. Manuka honey enjoys a worldwide reputation for its special abilities to aid immune response and natural wound healing. Honey products carry the UMF™ symbol have been verified to have the required antibacterial strength of the Unique Manuka Factor.

This is just one of the East Cape projects initiated by Comvita with the aim of establishing a sustainable supply of manuka honey.

Other initiatives include an agreement with Ngati Porou iwi to foster a beekeeping industry around Waipiro Bay and produce manuka honey on otherwise unproductive land.

The Waipiro Bay project began in 2002 with the delivery of 300 hives, along with their resident bees, to strategic locations. The hives were sourced from the South island to avoid varroa mite problems. Ultimately, the hapu at Waipiro Bay will purchase the hives and run them as a stand-alone operation.

“We are delighted to have an enthusiastic trainee on board,” says Elmsly.

“A successful beekeeping industry will ultimately translate into jobs and income for the East Cape community. I admire Peter’s drive and ambition, and hope the scholarship helps in some way to smooth the transition for his family.”

Comvita won the Environment Bay of Plenty Sustainable Business Award for large businesses earlier this year.

END
For media information and photographs contact: Jackie Buzowsky 021-386 990
or email jackie.buzowsky@comvita.com