2023 New Zealand Native Bee Ngaro Huruhuru 2 oz Silver Proof Coin

New Zealand is known around the world for its bee-related exports – mānuka honey, the Buzzy Bee toy and even live insects. Less known is the significance of New Zealand’s native bees – they don’t make honey, nor do they look much like the stereotypical specimen, but they are critical to our unique ecosystem.  

There are nearly 20,000 bee species recognized around the world. New Zealand is home to just 40 of them, the majority of which are endemic. Most people’s impressions of bees involve hives, honey and orangey-brown and black stripes. The humble ngaro huruhuru subvert these expectations. To our eyes, they might look more like flies than bees. 

Despite a global decline in bee populations, the growth of the mānuka honey industry has led to a rapid increase in honeybee hives in New Zealand. This has had an unfortunate impact on native bees, who are now competing for food. However, it’s climate change, human treatment and the use of land that are the greater threats to our bees. People in New Zealand can help by buying produce that doesn’t use pesticides and planting native trees for the bees to feed from and pollinate. 

Highlights

• First-ever New Zealand coin celebrating the native bee 
• Minted from 2oz of 0.999 silver 
• Designed by Wellington artist Sacha Lees 
• Low worldwide mintage of 400 coins.

Design

Of New Zealand’s bees, the Leioproctus genus is the best recognized. A maximum of 12 millimeters long, they look the most like honeybees. They’re all black except for Leioproctus fulvescens, which has dense orange-yellow hair. This species is featured on the coin, alongside the manuka flowers it pollinates. The coin features gold-plated text and a pattern of recessed circles on the edge representing the fact that the bees nest in the ground.