WELCOME TO OUR HIVE

Our core belief is that we can only be as healthy as the natural ecosystems that sustain us, as true healing power only comes from working in harmony with nature. We’ve done this for almost 50 years.

E reretau ana, e mahi ngātahi ana mātou ko ngā pi me te taiao i Aotearoa, hei whakaora, hei manaaki āno i te ao tūroa.

OUR HARMONY PLAN

Comvita is driven by a profound purpose: working in harmony with bees and nature to heal and protect the world. Our Harmony Plan is both a roadmap and a commitment to perpetuate positive impact for people, bees and planet, and is based on three core pillars; Treading lightly, embracing the science of nature, and strengthening our global hive. For us, it captures our determination to leave the world in a better place and we are committed to converting these pillars into action.

• We have donated more than NZ$300,000 as part of our 1% EBITDA commitment to initiatives in Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia, United States, Korea and Africa. Our Harmony Plan partners include Saving the Wild (Link https://www.comvita.co.nz/saving-the-wild ), Kaitiaki for Bees, and Save the Kiwi.

• 91% of our global Comvita team are shareholders and part-owners in Comvita.

• We continue to review and improve our operations through clear carbon action and restoring our environment through biodiversity initiatives and native rewilding.

• We have signed a partnership agreement with Olé (one of China’s largest premium supermarket chains) premised on a shared commitment to long-term ESG initiatives and outcomes.

• The Comvita Bee Welfare Code was launched and has been adopted across all Comvita Apiary branches.

• More than 44 million bees have been rescued from extermination.

• In 2022 Comvita amended its company constitution to ensure all stakeholders were considered in decision making.

Click HERE to read more about our Harmony Plan. 

TIME TO HEAL PROGRAMME

We encourage all our people to give back to the communities in which we operate. Our teams invest their time and expertise to lend voluntary support to initiatives that positively impact the quality of life, help build thriving communities and playing our part in situations of nature in need.

UNITED STATES - Community Garden Restoration

The United States team volunteered at Mesa Harmony Garden in Santa Barbara, planting native Californian plants. Before tree planting, we worked together to clear brush using wheelbarrows and craft gopher baskets to protect the plants from the feisty animals. We had a Garden tour to see their local bees, avocado, sapote, and persimmon trees. With close ties to the local food bank, the Garden regularly donates all their harvested fruit. It was a fantastic team-building experience, and I can't wait for the next one!

Heather Coalwell, Accounting Coordinator, USA

KOREA - Plogging

Our Korean team had a rewarding day restoring Cheonggyecheon Stream. Split into two teams, we enjoyed cleaning streets along a three-kilometer stretch of streamside. This experience heightened our environmental awareness and we hope also inspired passersby. A fantastic day had by all, embracing the Comvita Harmony Plan!

Wonhee Han, Brand Manager, Korea 

AUSTRALIA - Rewilding

Our Australian team dedicated their day to revitalising our eroded creek and ridding the native bushland of invasive weeds. It’s such a great feeling to have this renovation project up and running again, knowing we have the support of Comvita to make a difference is amazing. It may only be a small area in the scheme of things, but it's now a beacon of hope for the precious wildlife that call this area home. 

Aaron Prior, Operations Manager – Comvita Olive, Australia

AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND - Huria Marae

Our Production team members spent their Time to Heal Day volunteering at Huria Marae. For me, it was incredibly special to be welcomed onto the beautiful Marae by members of their Iwi. Pitching in at the kitchen to prepare kai (food) for the less fortunate whānau (families) in the Tauranga Moana community was a humbling experience, and it was heartwarming to see smiles on their faces as they enjoyed the kai.

Alazae Davis Peters, Warehouse operator, Aotearoa New Zealand  

B CORP CERTIFIED

 

"We are proud to be B Corp certified. This perfectly aligns with Comvita's founding principles and ongoing commitments captured in our Harmony Plan"

DAVID BANFIELD
Chief Executive Officer 

Since our establishment, Comvita has been grounded in ethical, social, 'founding' ethos and environmental ideals. In many ways, our ethos was ahead of its time – forged in an era when climate change had yet to enter the global narrative. Nearly five decades later, we are the leaders in this space.

Comvita was the first publicly listed company in Aotearoa New Zealand to specifically change its constitution to ensure the needs of all stakeholders are considered in decision making and governance.

B Corp certification is a powerful commitment to deliver performance against the highest global standards, providing rigorous independent verification across the five impact areas of our 13 subsidiary operations around the world (employees, customers, the communities we serve, governance and, of course, the environment). By providing a transparent 360-degree view of our global stewardship and action, we are further setting ourselves apart – and raising the benchmark for others to follow.

Read more about our B Corp certification HERE 

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APPRENTICESHIPS

As an industry leader, we strive to employ the best Apiarists, be the best Apiary employer and offer world class vocational development. ​

​We are committed to supporting and training New Zealanders by creating opportunities and career pathways in this exciting, and rapidly evolving industry. Following the successful launch of our first Apiculture (Beekeeping) Apprenticeships in 2021, we aim to recruit new apprentices in the future. If you are interested in joining us as an apprentice beekeeper, keep an eye out for our advertisements and or email [email protected] to enquire if there are any upcoming opportunities.​

Our apprenticeships run for two years and you will be supported throughout your development journey with a combination of on and off the job vocational training. We have some of New Zealand's most experienced professional Apiarists here to help mentor and coach you, and you will gain formal industry specific training to NZQA level 3 and 4 certification.​

We typically hire Apprentice Beekeepers at each of our established apiaries; Masterton, Whanganui, Taupō, and Te Awamutu, but as a Comvita apprentices, you will get to travel to each of the sites to learn all there is about apiculture.​ 

What do apprentice beekeepers do?​

Eventually, everything an experienced beekeeper would do! We have our apprentices involved with hive management, learning about disease control, honey production, hive transport and how to work safely. We assign a mentor/s to each apprentice so they can learn from the best and our apprentices are hands on from day one. The best way to learn is by doing, and we support our apprentices in gaining and developing apiculture skills safely, the moment they start. ​

What do I need to become an apprentice beekeeper?​

• Have a passion for (or interest in) bees.​

• Be a good communicator who can work well with others.​

• Have a positive attitude.​

• You must have a commitment to building a long-term career.​

• Being an Apiarist means working outdoors, often in all weather and in remote locations, so you need to be physically fit and able to get around varied terrain.​

• Because of the nature of the work, you must be able to get around, so you need to have a full driver's license, or at least able to get it before you start.​

• It would be a bonus (but not essential) if you have a full NZ class 1 or 2 license.​

• Must be able to pass a pre-employment drug screening/ongoing drug screening.​

Who should apply?​

Anyone with a passion (or keen interest) for bees and environmental sustainability. Our team comprises a diverse range of beekeepers, with various previous professional backgrounds. Whether you're seeking a career change or just starting out, we welcome applicants from all walks of life.​

Remuneration and benefits​

There are so many reasons why you should join our hive!​

As well as receiving at least the living wage and access to all our Comvita benefits, as an apprentice Beekeeper you'll also receive: ​

• Brand new bee suit​

• Hive tool​

• Smoker​

• Our Queen bees receive a menstrual pack to assist when out and about caring for the bees. (Menstrual cups, period undies and Shewee).​ 

HIVE BENEFITS

Comvita is committed to providing an environment where our team can thrive, unlocking individual potential and creating a legacy everyone can be proud of.

Our focus on wellbeing is just as strong at Comvita today as it was in 1974 when our founders, Claude Stratford and Alan Bougen, imagined a world where people enjoyed healthier lives. They found inspiration in bees, and honey became their medicine.

Comvita understands that great things happen when we're feeling our best. Just as honey sustains a hive, we believe that our peoples' wellbeing is pivotal to our shared success at Comvita. We're committed to providing the tools, support and environment where both personal and professional growth can Thrive.  We do this by:

MEET OUR PEOPLE

‘I feel staff well-being is a core focal point in the way that Comvita cares for and participates in placing people at the heart of the business. What has struck me from the beginning is that Comvita is a passionate team of caring individuals deeply invested in one another's growth and ability to thrive.’

Noe Waters, Bee and Nature Advocacy Lead

“What I love about Comvita’s Harmony Plan is it represents our commitment as an organisation to the environment and our team members. It speaks to our sustainability strategy, our environmental ambition and cultural movement, through the actions of our day-to-day activities”.

Elliot Sjardin, Product Innovation Manager
 

OUR COMVITA WAIATA

Our waiata was composed with the guidance of our Global Hive Connectors team, it celebrates our rich history, our connection to the whenua (land), taiao (environment) and acknowledges the original name of the Paengaroa MSC site – Ngā Māra Kūmara o Marukūkere. As a business in Aotearoa (New Zealand) we pride ourselves in upholding Māori cultural values by educating others through waiata and sharing our journey, past, present and future.

OUR WAIATA LYRICS

E hikoi whakahi i runga te huarahi kei mua ia mātou.
Kei kōnei mātou te whanau whānui ō Comvita,
Mai Te papakainga o  Paengaroa
o Ngā Māra Kumara o Maukūkere
E tu pakari, e tu Kotahi,
ki te hapai i te kaitiakitanga
me nga kaupapa O te rautaki reretau,
kia ora ai te hunga ora, ngā pī me te taiao.
E hikoi whakahi i runga te huarahi kei mua ia mātou.
He mihi kau ana ki ngā hau e wha o te ao o te pō,
Ko mātou tēnei ngā piki kōtuku o Comvita.
E hikoi whakahi i runga te huarahi kei mua ia mātou.

Here we are representing the global family of Comvita.
From humble beginnings, established within the original kumara gardens of Paengaroa.
We stand sturdy, and we stand in unison, as we elevate kaitiakitanga, and the values of our Harmony Plan.
For the betterment and health of humanity, the bees and the environment.
Globally, we walk together proud, as we continue our journey,
We send our greetings to the four winds – both in the tangible and intangible worlds.
We are uniquely Comvita

GLOBAL LOCATIONS