It was October and November last year when yellow-legged hornet nests began to emerge en masse, but so far in spring 2026 all is quiet around the previosuly hot spot of Auckland’s North Shore. That doesn’t mean Biosecurity New Zealand (BNZ) is getting complacent though the New Zealand Bee Health and Biosecurity AGM heard on October 30, and nor should beekeepers.

When the American foulbrood (AFB) National Pest Management Plan was revised recently it made an allowance for potential, future use of detection dogs. However, nothing has changed in practice as New Zealand Bee Health and Biosecurity (NZBB) continue to state more research is needed while no clear pathway towards field trials exists. Those closest to the most recent AFB detector dog project believe nothing will move forward unless someone steps up to champion the idea.

Greater consideration of an incorporated national group of beekeeping clubs is to be taken following a November 2 online meeting, but a final decision on whether that level of formalisation will be practical is yet to be made.

For an industry intertwined with nature, New Zealand made Kōpani Covers offer beekeepers a reusable, plant-based alternative to plastic. Designed to reduce reliance on plastic wrap, which carries environmental costs in both its production and disposal, the durable covers provide beekeepers with a practical, sustainable option for protecting honey during harvest, storage and transportation.

New Zealand’s long-awaited changes to the National American Foulbrood (AFB) Pest Management Plan are moving towards implementation, with proposed measures including greater transparency of honey test results, compulsory employee training, and stronger compliance tools.

One of the country’s largest honey exporters recently became the country’s largest beekeeping entity as Egmont Honey acquired much of the in-Receivership Tweeddale’s Honey of Taihape. It takes their hive holding from approximately 5000 to around 22,000 and the chief executive says they expect to only get bigger, but are determined to avoid the pitfalls of “corporate beekeeping”.

Evidence submitted by Mānuka Charitable Trust (MCT) to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in the mānuka honey certification trademark case contains promotional website texts that propagate common fictions and have been flagged as generated by artificial intelligence.

Artificial intelligence... "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"...

Moves are underway to bring the beekeeping clubs of New Zealand together into a national organisation that could provide a better avenue for reaching many of the country’s 7000 hobbyist beekeepers, and create strength in numbers for bee clubs. Led by Auckland Beekeepers Club president Ken Brown, a group comprising representatives from 16 clubs has met online and since then 29 clubs from all corners of the country have been invited to another pivotal online meeting, scheduled

Just over two months from its launch, Honey and Bees New Zealand (HBNZ) is calling on beekeepers, whether they are members or not, to let their opinions be heard and help shape the new commercial-beekeeper-centric group.

With no new yellow-legged hornet detections since April, Biosecurity New Zealand is stepping up surveillance this spring as the risk of surviving queens emerging from winter increases. Trapping continues, new tracking technology is being introduced, and scientists are trialling freshwater eDNA testing as another possible detection tool.

On September 10, after five months of planning, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)-led “Bee Alliance” gathered in Wellington for the first time, bringing together representative groups from most corners of apiculture and even some growers.