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October 96
The meeting was attended by 40 members (including committee).
- It was reported that Porirua is now charging beekeepers $60 for an annual licence for
any apiaries within the City.
- Ivan demonstrated his hive which had a number of improvements to a standard Langstroth
hive. These were a sloping landing board, special sheet metal division "boards"
to allow easy separation of supers without releasing bees, top feeding tray, and
ventilated top board. He also demonstrated his carrying handles made from reinforcing
steel.
- Terry Moore demonstrated his hive carrying device made from 3x2 timber and connecting
chains which are tightened around the bottom super (base needs to be strapped on).
- James Driscoll (MAF Advisory Officer, Palmerston North) spoke on his recent visits to
Western Samoa and MAF involvement in re-establishing organised beekeeping on the islands.
Previous attempts at beekeeping have been undertaken by commercial organisations (with
outside funding) but they have invariably fallen on hard times and abandoned the
enterprise. This has resulted in a number of feral colonies, but no local knowledge of
beekeeping.
The latest initiative is to get villages and landowners to have a few hives each, in
order to provide an alternative cash crop and to reduce the high level of sugar
consumption amongst the people. Bees in Samoa can produce honey all year round because of
the climate and abundance of flowers, but they do not fly in the heat of the day.
James passed around a sample frames made from local timber, and two different honeys
from Samoa (this was permitted to be imported into New Zealand because Samoa is entirely
free of bee diseases).
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