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NEW ZEALAND BEEKEEPER, FEBRUARY 2017
APINZ WELCOMES BRUCE WILLS AS INDEPENDENT CHAIR APICULTURE NEW ZEALAND BOARD Apiculture New Zealand Management Team
It’s never been more important to have a unified and strong peak industry body, representing all sectors and stakeholders.
How we are adding value Apiculture New Zealand has a clear mandate to add value to our industry and make it stronger as outlined in our Pledge Card. This sets out our commitment to protect our industry and bee health, represent and advocate on relevant issues, influence and position our industry as a vital primary sector in our own right, and inform to ensure our bee products are acknowledged for their authenticity and integrity. That’s a big undertaking, and so to support those key themes we have set up five industry focus groups on research, biosecurity, standards and regulation, education, and Māori engagement. The Standards, Compliance and Regulatory group is already up and running. The remaining focus groups and members are close to being finalised. All will play their role in developing the policy direction and practical work plans to support our industry. A key role for me as Chief Executive will be making sure the work of these groups is openly shared with members and delivers tangible results. So looking to 2017, I see an industry that has its foundations in place and is poised to take the next step in consolidating its united position and profile, and is continuing to attract new members. There is a huge amount of work ahead as part of that, but I’m up for the challenge with the support of the Apiculture New Zealand Board and our members. I look forward to working with you all this year and to seeing our industry continue to deliver value and grow in a sustainable way.
Bruce Wills has been appointed to the position of independent Chair for Apiculture New Zealand.
Mr Wills has been the acting Chair of the Apiculture New Zealand Board since its inception in June and will now take up the role in a permanent position. Prior to this he was the independent chair of the Joint Executive Councils of the National Beekeepers Association and Federated Farmers Bee Industry Group. “The future is bright for the New Zealand bee and honey industry and I look forward to having an ongoing role in growing that future; it’s an exciting time to be involved in such an important sector,” says Mr Wills. Mr Wills was appointed following an extensive recruitment process and demonstrated proven and experienced governance skills, as well as respected linkages across government and the wider primary sector. Mr Wills has shown tremendous commitment to ApiNZ and his ability to demonstrate his independence has been appreciated by the board. Already in his role as chair he helped to recruit a new full-time chief executive for the organisation. Mr Wills has a long and varied background in the primary sector. As well as his new role, Mr Wills sits on two National Science Challenge Boards and is a director of Horticulture NZ, QEII National Trust and Ravensdown. He chairs the NZ Poplar & Willow Research Trust and MPI’s Deer Primary Growth Partnership. He is an experienced company director and a past representative of New Zealand and international farming and trade forums. He is a past Federated Farmers president and currently farms in the Hawke’s Bay. He has been appointed for a three-year term from November 2016.
Source Ministry for Primary Industries. (2016, December). Situation and outlook for primary industries. Retrieved January 11, 2017, from https://www.mpi.govt.nz/about-mpi/corporate-publications/
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