Colony & Me
In 1995, not long after I had returned from the UK and after my father had passed away, I set up my first store at Lindale, Wellington.
I took on some of my father’s honey infusion machinery, and spent the next 25 years building up a chain of retail stores.
From my honey factory, I created a range of honey-based products from my factory, still using my father’s equipment and some of his recipes.
When the pandemic hit the world in 2020, I realised I couldn’t afford to keep paying the stores rents with such long periods of boarder closures. As each lease ended, I closed my stores. I moved my factory equipment to Orini Honey Packers - the birth place of my father. They now produce our honey-based products under the Rob’s Heritage Range and these are sold at Huka Honey Hive and Colony @ The Crossing.
I sold the Christchurch store to someone who had worked closely with me during the last few years, Andrew Plimmer.
I felt it was time to explore the more creative aspects of my life, although I still like to help with the best loved products.
The branding and artwork is my doing… I can’t quite let it all go, especially when we have such a loyal fan base.
The products below are available at the following stockists:
Huka Honey Hive, Wairakei Park, Taupo
Colony @ The Crossing, Christchurch.
If you would like to purchase these products, click the links below.
It’s the BEES NEES!
“Bees Nees was one of the first liquor products I sold at my Lindale store in Kapiti. Back then in the late 1990’s, there were not many products on the market that suited a honey store. I had to create my own to build up an inventory in what was quite a big and empty store at Lindale. As a honey expert, I knew Honeydew, otherwise known as Black Beech Honey, contained maltose, a natural sugar that has a malt flavour. It goes especially well with dairy so I knew the combination of the honeydew and cream would work really well together”. Krisdjansen
Kris Jansen is a tinkerer and creator, like her beekeeping father and pioneering forefathers before him. While at work at her honey store in the 1990’s, she dreamed up a cream liqueur made with NZ native Black Beech honey, or honeydew. With its silky creaminess and a natural malty flavour, it quickly won loyal fans. One delighted customer called it “the bee’s knees” - and the name remained.
Label designed by Krisdjansen
using 3D hexagonal patterns inspired by
natural beeswax comb a honey beehive.
Bees Nees is a Certified Trademark,
owned by Colony Wholesalers Ltd
Bees Nees Honey Crēme liquor embodies the maltiness of a black beech honey from the native forests of the West Coast of New Zealand of New Zealand to give a creamy texture and finish. This is a top seller and adored by lovers of cream liqueur for 25 years.
700ml. 14% Alc/Vol
(Note: This is an alcoholic product so you will need to be 18 years or older to purchase it.
It will be sold to you and shipped by Colony Stores, Christchurch).
It is also available at Huka Honey Hive, Taupō.
Robin Jansen began beekeeping in the 1950’s and moved his operations from the Waikato to Acacia Bay, Taupō in 1959 and then got married to my mother, Dawn.
He set up his first honey extraction plant there and became one of New Zealand’s biggest apiarist at the time. In the late 1970’s he began to experiment with honey infusions (once again, the first to do this in New Zealand) and built his own machinery to produce the best spreads. He started with Honey & Apricot, and this remains a firm favourite of mine.
He set up New Zealand’s first honey tourist centre in Poihipi Road, before eventually moving to the existing location of the current Huka Honey Hive (once known as the Country Hall of Fame). After he died in 1992, my mother, Dawn and Blair, a business partner, continued to operate the store up until 2018, when they sold the business to the current owners, Jo and Mark.
Label designed by Krisdjansen,
inspired by her late father, Robin Jansen -
the pioneer of infused honeys.
Rob’s Heritage Range is inspired by my father, Robin Jansen, who developed the first infused honey product back in the late 1970’s. I made a honey & ginger spread for over 20 years and it was always our most popular product. It is still made by family in the same location where my father and his father was born in Orini, Central Waikato. It is made with kanuka honey and is infused with drained ginger and ground ginger for that warm feeling.” Krisdjansen
Ginger Bee Intense - Rob’s Heritage Range
Honey and Infused Ginger - Spread/Topping
300g Net Glass
Tastes just like Ginger Crunch Slice! Delicious!!!
Ingredients: Honey, Drained Ginger (ginger, sugar, preservative 220), powdered ginger.
Directions for Use: Great in smoothies, for cooking, as a warm drink or as a spread.
It is recommended you use this product within 30 days once opened, however if you keep in the fridge, it will last for up to 12 months.
Ginger Bee Arabian - Rob’s Heritage Range
Honey and Infused Ginger with Dates and Spices - Spread/Topping
300g Net Glass
Tastes just like Hot Cross Buns! Delicious!!!
Ingredients: Honey, Drained Ginger (ginger, sugar, preservative 220), dates, cinnamon spice.
Directions for Use: Great in smoothies, in cooking or as a spread.
It is recommended you use this product within 30 days once opened, however if you keep in the fridge, it will last for up to 12 months.
Country (Honey & Apricot) - Rob’s Heritage Range
Honey and Dried Apricots - Spread/Topping
300g Net Glass
Tastes just like Apricot Pie! Delicious!!!
Inspired by my father, Robin whose first spread was Honey & Apricot, and it remains my favourite. I love it on Vogel’s toast!
Ingredients: Honey, Dried Apricots (may be traces of preservative 220).
Directions for Use: Great in smoothies, for cooking or as a spread.
It is recommended you use this product within 30 days once opened, however if you keep in the fridge, it will last for up to 12 months.