Bees in the Beehive

Bee Week hit top gear last night with a function at Parliament's Beehive, hosted by the Minister of Agriculture and MC'd by "the bugman" Ruud Kleinpaste.

Lots of Ministers, MPs, officials and journalists turned out to taste a range of honeys (including several organic varieties) and learn about the opportunities and challenges which face New Zealand's bee industry.

Jim Edwards from the National Beekeepers Association made it clear that more biosecurity breaches like the arrival of varroa would be disasterous - not just for New Zealand's horticultural industry, but our dairy sector as well, with beekeepers performing a critical role as "the pasture pollination people".

The bee sector has much in common with organics - each is a small part of New Zealand's total primary industry, but provides huge spillover benefits for all producers.  Like organic producers, beekeepers have had to innovate and adapt to face challenges from pests, diseases and threats such as toxic agrichemicals.

It's been an interesting chance to learn more about a similar sector, as OANZ has worked alongside the National Beekeepers Association, Horticulture New Zealand and Plant and Food Research - and together we had a great, positive public event.

Image: Organic honeys ready for tasting.

Image: OANZ Board member Mike Palmers with Hon David Carter (Minister of Agriculture) and Jim Edwards (National Beekeepers Association CEO)