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NEW ZEALAND BEEKEEPER, MARCH 2017
BUILDING A STRONG FUTURE WITH APICULTURE NEW ZEALAND CHAIRMAN’S/CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT Bruce Wills, Chairman and Karin Kos, Chief Executive Next month marks the start of Apiculture New Zealand’s second year of operation. Our inaugural year was focused on establishing Apiculture New Zealand, and we can be pleased with the progress that has been made in consolidating our association as the industry’s peak body.
Membership renewals Now is the time to renew your membership for the upcoming financial year. Please see the renewal form inserted in the journal. We are keeping membership rates the same as last year. We are really excited about the future for this industry. There is no question that the mānuka honey issue and a very poor honey crop present short-term challenges, but the long- term fundamentals remain extremely sound. Code of Conduct Last month we released the Apiculture New Zealand Code of Conduct (http://apinz.org. nz/about/). This is an important document for industry and sets the standards for how our industry operates in a responsible and sustainable way. While it’s a voluntary code, it sends a clear signal that Apiculture New Zealand members are professional and responsible operators, supporting the following four key objectives:
As well as providing tangible value-add services like the Land Use Agreements and the Health and Safety programmes, and of course the excellent annual conference, we’ve also established a strong executive team to champion the issues faced by our industry. We have a Code of Conduct in place, and are close to completing the reinvigoration of our Focus Groups. We continue to work closely with the Ministry for Primary Industries and others to ensure the best possible environment for our bee and honey industry to thrive and prosper. We appreciate this season has been a tough one for many of you. This makes it even more critical for Apiculture New Zealand to retain a growing membership base, not only to present a strong and united front in working through these challenges, but to make the most of the opportunities ahead.
• the sustainability of the bees and the environment that supports them
• public safety and social amenity
• good beekeeping practice in line with proven and ethical standards in working with bees and any activity associated with apiculture • the maintenance of good relations among all stakeholders. We see the Code of Conduct as living document, one that will need to be updated as our industry continues to grow and change. For that reason, the Code will be reviewed annually, to ensure it has ongoing relevance over the long term. As we head into a new financial year for Apiculture New Zealand, we look forward to working with you, and continuing to grow Apiculture New Zealand into an organisation that provides real value for your business.
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