Activist Manuka Honey: From New Zealand Nectar to Everyday Rituals

From its roots in the wild landscapes of New Zealand, to its rise as an international superstar, mānuka’s journey is one for the storybooks. Modern science has given us a way to measure the potency of its honey, but the mānuka plant is no stranger to traditional healing. It has been revered for generations for its remarkable properties and many uses. But it wasn’t always in the form of honey, the golden nectar we know today.

The Story of Mānuka

For Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, mānuka was a taonga, or “treasure,” long before it became a sought-after honey. The versatile plant was valued for its many traditional uses, with its leaves, bark, and gum incorporated into remedies for everything from fevers and stomach ailments to burns and coughs. In other words, the mānuka tree was already something of a natural pharmacy.

European settlers soon took notice, too. During Captain Cook’s voyages, his crew brewed tea from mānuka leaves and even made mānuka beer. But the story of mānuka honey would require one more arrival: the European honeybee. Honeybees were introduced to New Zealand in 1839, opening the door to a new chapter in mānuka’s story: honey made from the nectar of this treasured native plant. [🔗]

Why Mānuka Honey Is Different

In the 1980s, New Zealand biochemist Peter Molan began researching the antibacterial activity of mānuka honey. His research helped bring scientific attention to properties that had long been recognized through traditional use. This sparked growing interest in what set mānuka honey apart from other varieties and helped propel it to a globally sought-after wellness ingredient.

Today, one of the most recognizable ways to identify the potency of mānuka honey is its MGO rating. MGO, or methylglyoxal, is a naturally occurring compound associated with mānuka honey’s antibacterial activity. In general, the higher the MGO number, the more concentrated the compound. [🔗]

From New Zealand Treasure to Modern Wellness

Activist is the vision of husband-and-wife duo Gabrielle Mirkin and Luke Harwood. Wildcrafted in their homeland of Aotearoa, New Zealand, their intentionally curated collection is guided by the belief that nature already provides the blueprint. Each product begins with a genuine use or need, while seasonal cycles, local ecosystems, and minimal processing all play a role in bringing Mānuka honey from hive to home.

That philosophy extends to the bees and their hives as well. Activist intentionally maintains smaller hive populations in remote regions of New Zealand, allowing bees to forage and pollinate without overcrowding. The result is a harvesting approach that prioritizes the health of the colony alongside the integrity of the honey.

“Bees are our local heroes and they are truly environmental indicators for what is living and flourishing in the world.”
— Activist

Activist: Mānuka for Everyday Rituals

The Activist line encapsulates the extraordinary aspects of Mānuka in both its ingestible and topical uses. We brought in five of our favorites, each designed to elevate your routine, invite you to slow down, and enjoy a Mānuka ritual everyday.

Activist Beauty Rituals

Try It: Honey Tapping

Activist demonstrates a technique called honey tapping, which transforms a traditional face mask into a more intentional skincare ritual. The gentle tapping motion is designed to stimulate the skin while supporting circulation and lymphatic movement. 

Watch the demonstration and find step-by-step instructions on the Activist Honey Tapping guide.

“As someone who has always had very dry lips, I was searching for a balm that went beyond surface hydration, something that truly repaired my lips and could be layered beneath other products.”

– GABRIELLE MIRKIN, FOUNDER

Activist Wellness Rituals

Bringing it All Together

Activist feels like a natural fit for Haskill Creek, from the thoughtful products they create to the care they take with the footprint they leave behind. Rooted in the traditions and landscape of New Zealand, their approach brings Mānuka into modern life without losing sight of where it came from.

Whether tapped onto skin, tucked into a travel bag, or added to a daily wellness ritual, Activist offers a new way to experience an ingredient treasured for generations. We have a feeling these golden rituals will quickly become year-round favorites.