Joint venture already providing employment on Coast

Development West Coast (DWC) has entered into a joint venture to develop a West Coast wholesale honey business that has the potential to provide 15-20 new jobs over the next three years.

DWC and Putake Honey are investors in the West Coast business which will be based at Coal Creek near Greymouth. Putake Honey also operates successful apicultural businesses in Marlborough and Taranaki.

DWC CEO Joseph Thomas says the investment by DWC will not only provide jobs but will also help further expand an established industry for the West Coast.

“This partnership will create employment and scale up an industry which is currently fairly small on the Coast. Putake brings a proven business model to the West Coast and we hope bee-keeping will become an attractive career choice for young people in this region,” he says.

The new joint venture has already created employment. Putake’s head beekeeper has relocated to the West Coast to be closer to family and the company recently employed two local bee-keepers. A permanent part timer is likely to come on board shortly and six other casual employees have also been working over a six week period building boxes. It is estimated 15-20 new jobs will be created over three years.

Putake’s founder and General Manager Renee De Luca says the company has spent the last two years working with DWC with a view to further developing the apicultural industry on the Coast.

“We wanted to make sure we had a good understanding of the West Coast environment and weather patterns. We are keen to grow a sustainable low impact industry, and we also want Putake to be a contributor to regional economic activity through new employment, local spending and local profits,” she says.

Renee says Putake will be contributing to the local bee-keeping industry and already has land access arrangements in place that will provide good returns for local landowners. “We are really excited about going into partnership with DWC as they provide us with much more than capital. Their local connections, experience and advice so far have helped us build a strong foundation and relationships on the Coast to continue to grow the business,” she says.

The joint venture intends to create a business that can tell the unique West Coast story and in time will market and sell honey and other apicultural products worldwide.

ENDS

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