NATRUEL - Key Persons
Neil began his beekeeping career by helping his father for minimal remuneration.
He has owned and operated his own beehives since he was 16 years old. It was at this young age that he pioneered kiwifruit pollination in 1972.
He then progressed to a partnership with his father and finally to purchasing his father's share in 1981 with his wife Wendy.
He has seen many changes in the Beekeeping industry during the past 46 plus years and remembers the simplicity of the old days with its many challenges. Including very good and very poor honey seasons, earthquakes and the varroa mite incursion in 2000. Although Neil resigned from the day to day running of the business in 2017, he still works with the beekeepers a few days a week, and supports Duane and Wendy in an advisory capacity on a regular basis.
Neil is a former member of several beekeeping industry groups: (1) the NBA Executive Council which he served on for 6 years, (2) the AFB PMP (American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan) Management Agency and (3) the Federated Farmers Bee Industry Group (commonly known as B.I.G.). He resigned from these organisations last year when he decided it was time to pursue his interest in Missions more extensively.
Neil's interests are: his family, Mission Outreach which he is now director of, his international Mission involvement in Nepal, and taking care of his lifestyle block and forests.
Job Titles:
- General Manager
- Mossop 's General Manager
Wendy has assisted Neil in the business since 1977. In 2003 Wendy became the General Manager responsible for exports and finances, and overseeing most other areas within the business except the beekeeping team who Neil was responsible for. Since 2017 when Neil semi-retired to pursue other interests Wendy has taken on all the duties associated with running Mossop's Honey.
In her spare time, Wendy loves spending time with her family and grandchildren, is the treasurer for Mission Outreach, and goes overseas each year, on Mission trips to Nepal with Neil.