Our Heritage

Denis Watson, Saana Murray and Rapine Murray

The founder of Watson & Son, Denis Watson, is a descendant of the Maori Chief Kahungunu of Ngati Kuri tribe, who have taken pride and guardianship of Kapowairua (Spirits Bay) since the discovery of New Zealand in the year 925 by Maori.

Denis is passionate about his people, the indigenous Maori, and assisting them to form sustainable businesses. The Watson whanau (family) is proud to work in partnership with our Murray whanaunga (relatives) from Northland to achieve this goal through our joint venture: Watson and Murray Associates.

Rapine Murray is Denis Watson’s Business partner in Watson & Murray Associates. His mother Saana Waitai Murray is a respected elder throughout New Zealand and is known for her efforts to protect the natural environment and its resources. Together both whanau (families) share the same vision, in which they hope to achieve a bright future for their Maori people, through the management and protection of their Manuka resources.

“I don’t want to be the biggest beekeeper in the world, but I want security of supply and quality, and will encourage the local people — the mana whenua — to get involved and become self sufficient.” – Denis Watson.

The Far North itself is a spectacular area boasting approximately 14,000 square kilometers of landmass with a population of just 148,000 people. This land offers isolated, unspoiled Manuka forest with sub tropical weather making it the perfect place to harvest high quality active Manuka honey.

Watson and Murray Associates both own and lease land where Manuka flourishes. We have also implemented innovative planting programs, taking long-term leases on former pine forestry land and re-planting it in native Manuka.

Kaitiaki Taonga: Protecting our Heritage - Saana Murray

“Manuka is a nurture of the food chain for the survival of our tribe.

My name is Saana Waitai Murray and I am the claimant for Ngati Kuri of the intellectual property rights and knowledge of our Maori people. The claim is solely for the Tangata Whenua (people of Aotearoa – New Zealand) and refers to the second article of the Treaty of Waitangi. We had no right to let what our ancestors had naturally inherited to any foreign government to control.

Our ancestors are the inheritors of all Taonga (treasure) above and below the ocean, the forest and fisheries. In article 2 of the Treaty of Waitangi, it’s there proclaiming the right of the Maori people throughout New Zealand.

The claim is for all our forest. The Manuka is one of our Taonga used for its medicinal purposes, by our Tupuna (ancestors) and is the mountain stabiliser of our lands.

This resource is used for food and medicinal products throughout the world with no returns for our people in the past. With the recent arrival of the Manuka honey industry (Watson & Murray Assoc. and Watson & Son Ltd) our people of Northland have been buzzing with excitement and joy as they have been given the chance to acquire health, wealth, and education through the natural untouched Manuka forest, which we as the descendants have inherited from our ancestors.”