Denis Watson, Manuka honey producer
I'm part-Irish, part-Scottish and part-Maori . . .O'Brien on the Irish side, Watson on the Scottish side. On the Maori side I trace back to Kahungunu – one of the first chiefs to land and settle in New Zealand. My wife Meryl also has Irish roots; her ancestors hailed from Adare in Limerick. Her great grandfather was William Wallace OBrien. He fought for the British in the Maori wars in Kawhia, New Zealand. His family hailed from Tasmania and his grandfather was from Adare.
My business, Watson Son . . .was established in 2003, in response to the growing demand for premium Manuka honey. I am the founder and chief executive of the company, and I have over 30 years of apiary experience. Unlike other apiarists, Watson and Son specialises solely in the production of premium Manuka honey, with the goal of developing innovative healthcare products that harness the honey's antimicrobial properties.
We have over 15,000 beehives . . .they're placed in some of the most remote mono-floral Manuka areas of New Zealand. The company currently supplies product to Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, USA, Canada, UK, Germany, Denmark, Dubai, and now Ireland.
Manuka honey is unique . . .because unlike other honeys it has a special type of quality called "non peroxide activity" that has remarkable health properties. We're harnessing the unique antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of Manuka honey by using it in wound dressings, skin creams, lip balms and burn gels, where its efficacy can be put to good use.
The numbers printed on a Manuka honey jar label . . .signify the strength of the healing power of the honey. The higher the number the more potent the honey.
All of our hives have a GPS location . . .that's so every batch of honey can be traced back to its source.
It's a family business . . .Currently, three of the family work full time in the business. All of the family have worked in it at some time.
It interests me that I have some Irish connections . . .My great-grandfather seemed to have some kind of past that he was trying to run away from, as he jumped ship off the east coast of New Zealand and then hid out in the hills. Quite a few of the early settlers of New Zealand were remittance men, which meant they were "non desirables" back in their home country
I'm visiting Ireland this weekend . . .to help launch the sale of our honey.
I really want to . . .soak up the Irish way of life and see some of the country
I'm passionate about . . .Manuka honey – and my mission is to do all that I can to get this honey used to its potential to help alleviate suffering and promote healing in the world.
I'm really good at . . .pig hunting – the most therapeutic recreation activity anyone can have. It's good for clearing the head and exercising the body. The dogs used in this activity for tracking the pigs are amazing to watch.
Watson Son Manuka honey is available in supermarkets as well as independent stores
