Clik here to view.
Who’s in charge?
Q. Who is in charge inside the hive? The queen or the workers (foragers)? Good question. While it is commonly thought that she is called the queen because she is in charge, the hive can be likened to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Queen outside hive?
Q. My queen came outside the hive for some reason. A. With so little context, it is difficult to give a definitive answer as to why this happened. Assuming that she came out alone and went back in, we...
View ArticleHoney has a plan and is sticking to it
29 May 2024 Honey has a plan and is sticking to it By Karin Kos, Chief Executive of Apiculture New Zealand Farmers Weekly’s front-page article last week would have readers believing the end is nigh...
View ArticleNZ Honey Strategy receives funding boost
4 June 2024 New Zealand Honey Strategy receives funding boost The New Zealand’s honey sector’s plan for a more sustainable and future has received a funding boost through MPI’s Sustainable Food and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Stingless drones
Q. Why don’t drones sting? A. Only female insects sting. This is because the sting has evolved from the ovipositor, which lays eggs. We can see this today in parasitoid wasps where she lays an egg...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Checking hives in winter
Q. I’m a second-year beekeeper, I lost my hives last winter. Should I check my hives in the winter? A. It depends. Like most things in beekeeping, context is everything. There is the dilemma that going...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Starting an apiary
Q. How does one start, and increase an apiary in and around Carterton? A. It depends on whether you want to be a hobbyist or commercial beekeeper. In the first case the best step would be to join a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Selling beeswax
Q. Can I sell my beeswax if it has been processed in a NP1 kitchen? A. If you are operating under a National Programme (NP) 1 Guidance and want to process beeswax for sale that is not for human or...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Raising the standard
To get a behind-the-scenes look at how international standards for honey and hive products are being developed, Karen Allan caught up with the New Zealanders who are putting in the hard work and late...
View ArticleNew honey industry organisation proposal
New honey industry organisation proposal open for industry feedback Apiculture New Zealand and the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) have shared plans with their members on a proposal to...
View Article