Our Past - Mānuka Origins
Honey has been valued and the collecting of honey honored by civilizations for millennia – but authentic New Zealand Mānuka honey is widely recognized and highly sought after for its exceptional properties around the world.
Mānuka honey is produced from the characteristic nectar from the sweet-smelling flower of the Mānuka tree. Rich in amino acids, Vitamins B & C, antioxidants, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and bioactive compounds, Mānuka honey is a superfood and at the forefront of natural health sciences. No other honey has the volume or complexity of natural components at work like New Zealand Mānuka honey.
Māori used a range of traditional methods to deal with illness, and plants such as kawakawa, harakeke (flax), kōwhai and Mānuka were all important for healing. Today rongoā – Māori medicine – is seeing a resurgence of interest.
Mānuka Performance was born from this history with the desire to provide more healthy, natural energy and recovery for our world class sports people, weekend warriors and aspiring young athletes. Our sports people are regarded as warriors on the field, and Manuka was traditionally used by Māori warriors during the time of battle and in every day life.
Our Present - Who we are
Decades of research from scientists around the world have begun to uncover the signature compounds, benefits and mechanisms that make genuine New Zealand Mānuka honey truly unique. Mānuka Performance has a dedicated R&D division continuing research in novel and ground-breaking areas.
Upholding, protecting and promoting the indigenous knowledge and cultural tradition woven into the Mānuka story is important to us. Science and results are important, but sharing the story of our people, land and history is equally important to our culture.
Today, we sit at the forefront of nutraceutical Research & Development across human sports nutrition, chronic disease prevention, ag-tech and health sciences. We work inclusively with Māori suppliers, athletes, teams, physicians, health practitioners, coaches and community leaders around developing enduring relationships that add value beyond sport, health and business.
There is a strong saying in Māori: "Ehara taku toa e te toa takitahi engari he toa takimano"
Translating as "My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective"
Authenticity and standing true to who we are is important, it is something that Māori have proudly done for generations. Authenticity flows through to how we do business, what we develop and how these products help others in their success whether through sport or health. We develop products based on specific needs and requirements - not fad products - but science backed, MD formulated, surveyed and trusted by customers. We ensure our products undergo robust research with peer reviewed claims that stand up to scrutiny and authenticity.
Building a future for young athletes
We support the next generation of athletes by ensuring that a portion of our products have always gone to youth athletes and teams for free. We have donated products to multiple youth camps, events and school teams to help them on their journey.
Our educational programs deliver nutritional and athletic knowledge to aspiring athletes, students and under-privileged children. For more information on this framework and how we can deliver it to your school, college or team - click here.
Our chronic health and research initiatives work in partnership with Māori and Pasifika communities who in New Zealand, are disproportionately affected by Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease. Our ongoing R&D projects are translational and collaborative in nature, building capability in our communities with real-world outcomes that are meaningful and relevant.
Our Future - Shaping the health & Performance of USA's next generation
Entering into the USA market presents exciting opportunities to continue the work we are doing with athletic performance, youth education, culture, diversity, health outcomes and education around nutrition and nutraceuticals.
We look forward to growing our collaboration & partnerships with likeminded individuals, teams and organizations throughout USA - bringing our unique Kiwi flair and culture to the conversation.
Our New Zealand story carries our identity and passion, who we are as a company, why we do what we do and how we do it.
Our Values
Core values provide the alignment and measure to how we do business. As a Māori company from New Zealand doing global business - our native language captures the essence and richness of our values more than common English words like trust, authenticity and honesty.
The Māori language, with its unique vocabulary and structure, offers insights into the Māori worldview and their profound connection to the land, sea, and ancestors.
These views and values weave together to form the foundation of a business that values integrity, people and doing the right thing first, while having fun along the way.
