National Bee Week

It's National Bee Week here in New Zealand and the National Beekeepers Association of New Zealand (NBA), Horticulture New Zealand, Organics Aotearoa New Zealand and Plant & Food Research are busy highlighting opportunities of bees and beekeeping in New Zealand.

While the United Kingdom and other Northern Hemisphere countries fight Colony Collapse Disorder and struggle to save disappearing colonies, New Zealand is experiencing a buzz surrounding its bee exports.

NBA chief executive Jim Edwards says NZ exports about about 30,000 kilograms of live bees each year, and according to the NBA, of the 10,500 tonnes of honey produced annually, almost half is exported. Exports of honey are valued at around NZ$71 million, including NZ$4 million of premium organic honey.

The New Zealand honey crop for 2007/08 was estimated at 12,375 tonnes, up 28 percent on the 2006/07 crop of 9666 tonnes, and 17.3 percent higher than the six-year average. The national average was 36 kilograms per hive compared to 30.7 kilograms last season.

New Zealand beekeepers harvest honey from a variety of floral sources including: Clover, Manuka, Rata, Rewarewa, Kamahi, Tawari, Pohutukawa, Thyme, Honey Dew, Borage and Nodding Thistle. Honey is increasingly differentiated according to the flower source, with better blends and more appealing packaging adding value and ensuring more income per kilogram.

Bee week will appropriately climax at the Beehive on 5th May.