Our Story
Welcoming you to our little corner of the world.
The story of TranzAlpine Honey began in 1910 when the Newton family started keeping bees in the remote South Island of New Zealand. And it’s been a family-run business ever since.
Edward and Rose Newton’s sons Allen, Ron, Roy and Selwyn all became beekeepers. Allen Newton collected his first swarms from the Lyndhurst school bell tower in 1920 and carried them home to the family beekeeping farm in sugar sacks. By the early 1930s, the Newton family had forty beehives, producing up to three tons of honey.
Derek remembers his father Allen placing a small stepladder behind an enormous seven-story beehive in 1958. He climbed the ladder, took off the lid, lifted the corner of the sack mat, climbed down and said to Derek, “climb up, look in and tell me what you see”. Derek did so and reported, “It’s chock-a-block”. So much honey.
“We’ve been a bit addicted to the beekeeping for over 110 years now” - Derek Newton
“TranzAlpine Honey has been an important part of my life since joining the Newton family in 2006. We look forward to progressing further with the organic honey business that will continue to stay in the same family for many more years to come.” Yuriy Soshnikov, Managing Director.
Right from the beginning, we realised the importance of producing honey that’s sustainably produced and organic.
It’s important to the bees, the quality of the honey, the land and for you. And for 100 years, my family has kept this knowledge at the heart of how we produce honey for you.
Not everyone can live in such a pristine part of the world, which is why we love that we can share our organic honey with you. So you can enjoy honey without synthetic chemicals, GM sprays, antibiotics or other pollutants.
And you’re not alone in enjoying our honey.
Right from the beginning we learned to keep our honey production as natural as possible.
Honey-lovers in 26 countries and five continents enjoy TranzAlpineHoney. But whilst so many people enjoy our honey (we’re New Zealand’s largest Organic honey producer and exporter), we still produce our honey with care, attention and respect to the bees, the land and accountability to you who enjoys our honey.
“Hard work never killed any man, but broke many a man’s spirit” - Ron & Roy Newton
Let us share a bit more of our family’s story with you. If you’ve got any questions or comments for me and the team please contact us.
Or you can see our range of organic New Zealand honey in our online shop.
In the Beginning
Over 110 Years of Newton Family Beekeeping History
2023
Certified Organic for 30+ years
2023
Winners of the OrganicNZ Organic Brand of the Year
2022
Winners of two Gold and one Silver Award at the NZ Inspire + Artisan Awards
2022
Obtained FIANZ Halal Certification
2022
Winners of the ANZ Business of the Year award for Excellence in Export
2021
Launched the Honey Fusions range
2021
Obtained the New Zealand Fernmark Licence
2020
Celebrated 1,000,000 million exported jars AND 110 years of family beekeeping history
2020
Obtained organic certification with USDA for American export market
2018
Victoria and Yuriy take over TranzAlpineHoney and continue to run as family business
2009
Obtained the official New Zealand Made trademark
2008
TranzAlpineHoney New Zealand brand established with the help of Derek’s stepdaughter Victoria and her husband Yuriy
1993
We get our BioGro™ organic certification
1987
Derek joins family business and take over its main operation
1946
Ron and Roy Newton (Rhoda's brothers) run around 1000 hives between Rakaia and Rangitata rivers, and Selwyn their other brother build his hives up to around 200
1930's
The Newton family has 40 bee hives which grows to 120 by 1943
1910
The Newton family starts beekeeping in Remote South Island of New Zealand
