WORLD / ASIA-PACIFIC Hive of conflict By AFP Published: May 11, 2021 06:13 PM Beekeepers in New Zealand are seeking the exclusive right to use the "manuka" label for their honey, pitting them against rival Australian farmers over a prestigious product that can fetch hundreds of dollars per jar. Beekeeper Sven Stephan processes honeycombs at an apiary in the New South Wales town of Somersby, Australia, on April 20. Photos: AFPManuka honey takes its name from the Maori term for Leptospermum scoparium, the flowering shrub whose nectar forms its essence, which is found in both Australia and New Zealand. But Australian production could soon be dealt a heavy blow, with a group of New Zealand producers launching proceedings in multiple countries to register the term "manuka" and claim its exclusive use.