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NEW ZEALAND BEEKEEPER, JUNE 2017
MYRTLE RUST ARRIVES IN NEW ZEALAND CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT Karin Kos, Apiculture New Zealand Chief Executive The arrival of myrtle rust to New Zealand shores last month was disappointing but unfortunately not unexpected, given its recent spread along the east coast of Australia and the fact that it is carried by the wind and on people, vehicles and equipment.
It’s a particularly nasty fungus that attacks various species of plant in the myrtle family including pōhutukawa, mānuka and other natives, and also feijoa and guava trees. But at this stage we don’t know how myrtle rust will behave in New Zealand conditions and the impact it might have on our native plant species like mānuka. While bees can transfer the myrtle rust spores from plant to plant, our best information tells us that they do not transfer the spores into the hive. Tests in Australia (where myrtle rust is widespread) did not find myrtle rust spores in beehives. The Aussie experience We’ve talked to our counterparts in Australia, including the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council, as well as individuals involved in the industry. They say that when myrtle rust arrived in Australia in 2010 there were concerns about the impact it might have on honey production; however, Australian beekeepers are still producing jelly bush honey (a Leptospermum species) in affected areas. The key lessons learnt in their response to this disease is the need for a coordinated government, industry and stakeholder response; collaborative research working with countries already impacted by the disease; and longer-term initiatives like seed banking and resistance breeding. These initiatives make a lot of sense and it’s good to see that Kiwi research organisations have already been working with experts in the USA (including Hawaii), South Africa, Australia, Colombia, and Brazil to gain an understanding of how the fungus could affect native and exotic trees in our country. New Zealand researchers also met in Christchurch last month to start to look at what research we currently have and what will be needed over the longer term. For our
Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) on Agonis. Myrtle rust is a serious fungal disease that affects plants in the myrtle family (family Myrtaceae). Photo courtesy of the Ministry for Primary Industries.
industry, practical measures like seed banking and resistance breeding programmes for New Zealand species are critical. Here at home So what about local beekeepers and the impact on our industry? At this stage MPI has been appealing to beekeepers in affected areas (at time of publication Kerikeri and Waitara/New Plymouth) to not move their beehives if possible, while they gather further information. Fortunately, most hives have been wintered down for the season, so very little movement is expected anyway. MPI also
is advising that there’s no need for any drastic action such as destruction of any beehives. To help with the knowledge on the ground and key contact points, Apiculture New Zealand has provided MPI with local beekeeper and industry liaison people (Paul Martin, ApiNZ Board member and Rob Murray of Tai Tokerau Honey) in Whangarei and Toby Annabell of Egmont Honey in Taranaki. In addition, Apiculture New Zealand will continue to provide regular updates to its members, and is working with MPI to develop a set of management guidelines on myrtle rust for beekeepers.
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