Collection: Tui Balms

In the early 80s Tui Bee Balm was designed by the late Colin Iles, an English bee keeper, combining only natural ingredients to create a multi-purpose soothing & healing skin care balm. The recipe was gifted to the newly formed Tui Community in Golden Bay, New Zealand, in 1984.

For the first few years, the balms were hand-made with voluntary effort by the community residents. With a massage therapist and a naturopath part of the team, new recipes were created and the range increased to include balms for specific uses as well as a range for all-over body massage.

In 1994 we became a registered co-operative society, and since 2008 we are also a registered charitable organisation operating as a not-for-profit business, each year donating the profits to registered charities.

From its humble beginnings, the workers’ co-operative has steadily grown. In 2001 the making of the balms moved from community facilities into purpose-built premises with specialised equipment. In 2018 the premises have been expanded and upgraded with an eye towards becoming a GMP (good manufacturing practice) facility.

Today Tui Balms provides local paid employment for 15 part-time staff in rural Golden Bay.