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ApiNZ Finds Funding in a Familiar Source, but Will They Share?
The Honey Industry Trust (HIT) is set to come to the rescue of Apiculture New Zealand (ApiNZ) – for the short-term at least – with a...
Patrick Dawkins
5 hours ago7 min read


Blindsided Beekeepers See Red at AFB PMP Change
On June 27 the Minister for Biosecurity, Andrew Hoggard, dropped a bombshell announcement – the sole compulsory levy funded aspect of the beekeeping industry, the American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan (AFB PMP) would be under new governance, in the form of a Charitable Trust led by existing board members. The news has been met with anger from some beekeepers decrying an “abhorrent lack of transparency” and “despicable conduct”. Despite this, tentative steps towards an impro
Patrick Dawkins
Jul 210 min read


Crucial “Open Session” ApiNZ AGM Just Weeks Away
Apiculture New Zealand (ApiNZ) – caught in limbo over a Board proposal to disestablish – is calling an “open session on how we can regenerate industry leadership and determine how that is organised” to bookend their Annual General Meeting in July, thus forecasting the Christchurch meeting as a crucial juncture in the history of an organisation with roots dating back 112 years.
Patrick Dawkins
Jul 24 min read


Hive & Wellness Australia Hijacks UMF
At the time Australia’s largest manuka honey producer, Hive & Wellness Australia Pty Ltd, launched an attack on New Zealand manuka honey – as detailed in Capilano Trash Talks New Zealand Manuka – the company was marketing three manuka honey products as “UMF certified”. It still does.
Patrick Dawkins
Jul 23 min read


Mānuka Orchard and NZ Beeswax Call Beekeepers to Open Days
While Christchurch will play host to beekeepers over two days, centred around the Apiculture New Zealand AGM on July 17, a week prior and a week later two North Island open days are set to provide highly informative and social, as well as free, get togethers for all beekeepers.
Patrick Dawkins
Jul 23 min read


Leadership Shakeups at Major Mānuka Honey Companies
Both the publicly listed Comvita Ltd., and privately owned Mānuka Health, will soon have new CEOs in place, while Comvita’s chief financial officer (CFO) has also handed in his notice. Both companies are putting on a brave face as they make the announcements, but Comvita’s share price has plunged to new lows.
Patrick Dawkins
Jul 23 min read


Bridging (and Harnessing) the Generation Gap
Despite 107 years of family-involvement in the beekeeping industry, up until business sale and retirement in 2024, Murray Bush has been removed from industry governance roles and even industry-body membership in recent years. Therefore, standing on the middle-ground of “The Great Unwashed”, the Marlborough apiarist offers his opinion on the considerations and compromises needed to move forth greater industry representation.
Murray Bush
Jul 26 min read


Gene Silencing Varroa Control Proposed in the US, with Support from NZ
A New Zealand university has played a critical role in a cutting-edge new varroa treatment which recently took one giant step closer to being fully approved for beekeeper use in the USA.
Patrick Dawkins
Jul 23 min read


Varroa Control Tips – Simple Messages, with Huge Potential Payoffs
These words don’t come easy… after three weeks of attending Australian State beekeeping conferences, I am in admiration of the maturity and leadership demonstrated by a group of influential commercial Australian beekeepers on the management of varroa.
Nick Taylor
Jul 24 min read


Should Your Honey Occupy a Seat at the ‘Global Honey Bar’?
New Zealand beekeepers are fond of stating that there is more to their honeys than “just mānuka”, and now a new place on the world stage exists to prove it.
Patrick Dawkins
Jul 22 min read


John Berry on Beekeeping in Hard times
With beekeepers up and down the country feeling the pinch of rising costs and honey prices well below recent highs, veteran beekeeper John Berry has some practical advice beekeeping when the chips are down.
John Berry
Jul 26 min read


A Functional Industry Group? – Start by Seeding the Grass
Seeking an excuse to get out of the house, retired beekeeper Dave Black ventured to New Zealand Beekeeping Inc’s (NZBI) Paengaroa event on June 6, with the occasion stirring him to make some astute observations on beekeeper representation both locally and nationally.
Dave Black
Jul 24 min read
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