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NEW ZEALAND BEEKEEPER, FEBRUARY 2017
“Everything is taking so much longer because of the roads. We couldn’t take vehicles certain places and it now takes up to 10 or 11 hours to drive to certain sites, which before would have taken half an hour.” He anticipated it would take up to 12 months before everything would be back to normal. “But we are resourceful people and we will do what we have to do to carry on with business. Unfortunately, it is the weather which is now being more disruptive than anything.” He said fellow beekeepers had been a major help during this time. Without even asking, there were offers of assistance and a generous gesture from Ecrotek to replace broken frames. Bruce McCusker of Clarence River Harvest Limited said all the beekeepers in the area had come together during the crisis. “It has been quite traumatic and has affected a lot of people. But through it all there has been team work and support from the different companies, some of whom are usually in competition.”
Above: A cloud of bees waiting to be re-homed.
Below: Some much-needed supplies were transported by helicopter. Photos: Duncan Storrier.
BEECONOMICS There are 1500 beekeepers in the Blenheim and Canterbury regions with over 124,000 hives in total. The economic value of both the pollination potential and honey and bee products for these regions is estimated by industry to be just over $155 million per annum. The hives not only provide honey and bee products. Honey bees also play a critical role in pollinating pastoral clover for nitrogen regeneration, specialised small seed crops, berry, stonefruit and pipfruit orchards. Apiculture New Zealand Chief Executive Karin Kos said it had been encouraging to see offers of help come in from its members across New Zealand, as well as from wider industry partners and the Government.
Above and at right: Daniel Milne’s hives, including “a group of 40 with every hive knocked over. Some had moved two or more metres. Not even the straps held them together.” At right: damage to Daniel’s honey shed. Photos: Daniel Milne.
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