Our Story
Born into Beekeeping
Born and raised into a whole family of beekeepers in the Far North, Levi has been beekeeping since he was 13yo; first working under his dad and now running his own operation.
“Beekeeping runs throughout my whole extended family - including my dad and siblings, most of my uncles, aunties, and cousins too. I’ve grown to really love the work and it’s a trade I want to continue with in my own family.” - Levi
A country boy meets a city girl
Coming from opposite ends of the North Island of New Zealand, Levi and Monica met in 2019 during their studies in Auckland. Levi lived in Auckland during their degrees and went back to the Far North in the breaks to continue beekeeping.
Shortly after they started dating, Monica would be making the treks north as well.
The beginning of Taste & See
Throughout their years together, the couple both experienced life-changing illnesses that meant they could no longer work the hives. They could barely walk on some days. Levi's dad maintained their hives in their recovery as he did when Levi was away studying. Post-graduation and post-wedding, Levi pushed through his symptoms and found work at an office job while Monica tended to their home in her sickness.
In July 2023, the couple had three drums of honey produced from their hives. From these their three blends of Mānuka Honey to start their small batch journey.
Newly married, living on one income, desperately trying to make things work while still being debilitatingly ill; this is the arduous season that birthed Taste & See.
The story behind the name
Taste & See NZ is a name inspired by a verse in the Bible;
"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him." - Psalm 34:8
Through such a hard season of their lives, Levi and Monica clung to the truths of scripture surrounding the character of God. His kindness, trustworthiness, and ultimately His faithfulness to those who seek Him in their hardship. From this came the beautiful name, Taste & See.
A newlywed couple & a little caravan
Just a few months after launching TAS, while still so sick, the couple made the hard decision to leave their job. They sold most of their belongings, packed the rest into a little caravan and made their way to Tauranga in the pursuit of answers for their health concerns.
This retro 60's caravan was home for the couple for 7 months. They spent the first while living at DOC campsites around the BOP until a relative called and said to park up on his property in the Western Bay of Plenty. They remained there until they sold the caravan and moved into a house.
A new place to call Home
In Tauranga, they found a Naturopath who was known for helping people with their symptoms. 3 months into their treatment plan, Levi made a noticeable recovery and they travelled back to the Far North where Levi was temporarily beekeeping again for the first time in years.
With Monica's health not making the same improvements, they went back to the BOP, this time making efforts for a more permanent move. With his restored abilities, Levi very quickly got a job kiwifruit picking to generate some income and the couple was soon able to move into a house.
A return to beekeeping
Finding their rhythms in their new home, a new church, and Levi's new office job, the couple's pull towards their business was still strong. In Spring 2024, confident he was recovered enough, Levi made the call to bring their 70 hives down from Kerikeri to Tauranga.
Pictured are the first 70 hives Levi & Monica brought down to their new home. These hives would then go on to produce just under 6 tonnes of honey over their first season in the Bay of Plenty.
A "welcome back" super season
The couple quickly learnt that beekeeping in the Bay of Plenty was vastly different to beekeeping in the Far North. With Monica's health still not progressing, Levi ran their hives solo working part-time on the weekends, alongside his 8-5 job. The year filled up quickly to the point where the bees were becoming more of a stress than a relief.
But God was there to provide!
Their hives were called in for their first ever pollination gig with a relative who needed some extra hives. From there, the 2024/2025 season was described as a "super season" meaning trees and flowers were booming and blooming; and for the bees that meant honey! After the BOP harvest, the couple took their hives south for a Mānuka crop with a family friend that then tied them over.
A dream come to life; an answer to prayer
After such a successful first season in the Bay of Plenty, their dream for Taste & See grew and so did their call from the Lord.
So much so that in Winter 2025, they decided that Levi would leave his job and pursue beekeeping full-time.
He spent the rest of that winter hunting down more gear, beehives, storage, extraction facilities, pollination contracts, the whole lot; and this is the dream they are now living in.
A full-time Faith
They've now scaled from 70 to 500 hives and from having 2 site-owners to now having more than 30 awesome people hosting their hives across the Bay of Plenty/Central North Island. Their business is expanding and refining through the seasons and they're becoming more established as time goes on.
They've been able to taste more of God's goodness and kindness, and work hard towards a dream they believe He has called them to.
Taste & See with Levi & Monica
Much like Levi, Monica has since made great progress in her physical healing and recovery and is now beekeeping alongside Levi, particularly during the Spring/Summer season for Pollination and Honey Harvesting. The couple's health is only improving with time and they love being able to work together.
"We are building Taste & See, brick by brick. Countless hours of praying and planning has gone into this work and we hope to continue to grow and learn as the Lord leads us. We have tasted and seen of God's goodness through the many seasons of life, both the abundant ones and the ones of lack; and that is the heart of Taste & See. Join us and follow along as we continue learning on our beekeeping journey and in life, and may you also, taste and see that the Lord is good!."
The Whiteheads x
