Several things set New Zealand honey apart from non-New Zealand honey. As a result, New Zealand Honey is superior in several ways to non-new Zealand Honey.

1. •High Proportion of Indigenous Vegetation
   

Over 30% of New Zealand's land area is protected areas such as National Parks, Conservation Parks or Nature Reserves. This is much higher than other countries. This protected land has indigenous vegetation in almost all circumstances. Obviously, this land area is guaranteed to be pristine and unpolluted! This makes it much easier for all beekeepers in New Zealand to produce residue-free/low residue honey. New Zealand honeys such as manuka honey, kamahi honey, rewarewa honey, rata honey, pohutakawa honey, tawari honey and beech honeydew are all produced in areas of predominantly indigenous vegetation. Other honeys such as thyme honey and vipers bugloss honey are not produced in areas with indigenous vegetation, but they are produced in areas where there is very little agricultural activity (or none).