ACTIVIST Mānuka

Name: ACTIVIST Mānuka
Brand: USA
Availability: OutOfStock

since 2018 : Wild Beauty from the Edge of Aotearoa

Gabrielle Mirkin and Luke Harwood, a couple with deep roots in Aotearoa New Zealand, founded ACTIVIST Mānuka. Gabrielle comes from a world of glossy visuals, having worked as an art director for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar. At the same time, Luke brings a lifelong connection to the land, the ocean, and environmental stewardship.

The brand grew from something deeply personal. Gabrielle’s experience with Lyme disease led her toward natural remedies and plant-based healing. At the same time, life on Luke’s family land in the Coromandel Peninsula immersed them both in New Zealand’s native ecosystems. Surrounded by shifting microclimates, ancient Mānuka trees, and thriving bee populations, they became determined to create something with minimal industrial impact. This business would work with nature rather than against it.

ACTIVIST quietly launched and caught the world’s attention in 2018, when Vogue profiled their approach to Mānuka honey. The article introduced readers to their graded honeys, creative recipes, and slow, intentional ethos, framing ACTIVIST as more than a pantry staple —a wellness ritual.

What They Make: Wild Honey and Botanical Rituals

At the heart of ACTIVIST’s range is their raw, wild-crafted Mānuka honey, harvested from bees pollinating self-seeding Mānuka trees in remote, pristine New Zealand landscapes. Every jar is certified in New Zealand and labelled with its MGO (methylglyoxal) potency, ranging from 100+ MGO for everyday culinary use, 300+ MGO for general wellness, and 850+ MGO and above for medicinal or topical use.

Their world extends beyond honey into botanical skincare and wellness treatments. Highlights include the Mānuka Honey Mask for exfoliation and hydration, the Green Botanical Serum infused with native plant oils, and a line of lip balms, botanical soaps, and essential oil blends. Each formula is created with minimal interference, allowing New Zealand botanicals, both land and sea-derived, to shine as natural complements to their honey.

Ethics, Bees, and the Beauty of Restraint

ACTIVIST treats bees as environmental indicators, so their hives are placed in low-density, remote regions to reduce stress on the ecosystem. The Mānuka trees they pollinate are wild, self-regenerating, and even help improve soil health and prevent erosion. Any leftover plant material from oil extraction is returned to the earth as mulch, closing the loop on waste.

Their packaging is deliberately simple, avoiding single-serve formats and unnecessary plastic. They are members of 1% for the Planet, donating a portion of their revenue to environmental causes, and they emphasize transparent labeling and full traceability —a crucial stance in an industry often plagued by mislabeling and adulteration. The brand’s clean, modern packaging reflects this ethos: elegant yet never clinical, it is designed to present Mānuka as a cultural and natural treasure rather than just a commodity.