(Continuing from the previous blog) In this regard, Japan, with 70% of its land covered by natural forests, boasts a rare and remarkable natural beauty, as I’ve previously  discussed in this blog. In recent years, the New Zealand government has also tightened regulations and strengthened the protection of native forests. My own beekeeping  operation falls under government management, and while it’s my land, any forest clearing is subject to strict government oversight.

Much of New Zealand’s land being converted to pastures through the work of honeybees. During the settlement era, British pioneers found it  easiest to clear the virgin forests, sow seeds for grass brought from their homeland, and establish pastures for livestock. This approach  allowed them to quickly secure essentials like food, clothing, and shelter. Raising sheep provided wool, meat, and even timber from felled  trees to meet their basic needs. I personally keep sheep at home as a substitute for a lawn mower, and I believe there’s no other animal  as low-maintenance—but that is only if there’s pasture available, of course.

New Zealand, once submerged under the ocean in ancient times, emerged later as an island where all original plant and animal life had been  wiped out. As a result, only birds could make their way to the island, and naturally, there were no pollinating insects. British settlers initially  had to bring grass seeds from the UK each year—a laborious process of sowing to establish pastures.

However, on the recommendation of  Darwin, famous for his theory of evolution, they introduced honeybees, which solved this problem.  This marked the beginning of beekeeping in New Zealand. Today, Manuka honey is gaining worldwide recognition, but it’s thanks to the  pollination work of honeybees that agriculture—including livestock farming and fruit production—has been able to thrive in this country.

According to an elderly local beekeeper, “Nowadays, Manuka honey is treated as a precious variety, but when I was young, my parents always told us  to pull out any Manuka trees as soon as we saw them.” If left unchecked, the Manuka trees would spread and overtake the pastures.  Back in the day, hive frames were all made of wood, but as Manuka honey became profitable, resin frames started to appear.

This honey is extracted using a centrifugal separator, but due to the high viscosity of Manuka honey compared to other types, the extractor  needs to spin at high speeds to pull the honey out. Wooden frames, with their foundation secured by only three wires, suffer from the strong  centrifugal force, which damages the wax cells. After extraction, the damaged frames can’t be reused as empty comb (karasuhi), which refers to  honeycomb without any stored honey, pollen, pupae, larvae, or eggs.

Still, wooden frames align more naturally with the ecosystem, so I try to use them as much as possible. In the lower sections, where bees lay  eggs and care for young, I use wooden frames. For storage on higher levels (the third story and above), only resin frames are suitable, as they can  withstand the force required to extract the thick Manuka honey. Based on the faster rate at which comb develops in these frames, it’s clear  that the bees prefer wooden frames.