PRESENT : Frank Lindsay (Pres.), Mary Ann Lindsay (Treas.), John Burnet (Sec.) and 31 members and visitors as listed in the attendance book.

APOLOGIES : Richard Hatfield, Fritz Fuchs, John Wallace, Amor Walter, John Robson, Fred & Robert Thomson.

NEW MEMBERS & VISITORS : Wayne Newby (Pukerua Bay)

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING : Minutes of regular meeting and committee meeting held 14 August were confirmed.

MATTERS ARISING :

Varroa Mite Outbreak : President outlined current restrictions imposed by MAF on hive movement and the proposal to change the current boundary between the buffer zone (northern N.I.) and the surveillance zone (southern N.I.). Proposed boundary which will be more topographically based will extend from Mt Messenger (40 km north of New Plymouth) across to Mt Ruapehu and follow the Kaimanawa and Raukumara Ranges to East Cape. A mediation meeting to discuss boundary change with affected BOP beekeepers was scheduled for 14 Sept.

President produced a demonstration floorboard based on US & UK experience which incorporated a 4mm mesh screen designed to prevent fallen varroa reattaching themselves to incoming bees and rejoining the brood. Apparently however Dennis Anderson and other NZ scientists were hopeful within two years they could develop long-term biological solutions to the varroa problem e.g. a pheromone to prevent the mite reproducing, which may obviate the need for southern N.I. beekeepers to make any radical changes to their current hive management practice.

It was generally agreed that the mite would reach the Wellington area in 1 - 2 years and it was impossible to prevent stray hitch hiking bees infiltrating local hives. Beekeepers could assist in reducing or minimising mite infiltration by changing their hygiene habits now and culling frames with excessive drone brood. The presence of varroa mite can be determined by dragging a cappings fork across drone brood cells at the red eye stage.

Apistan costs were expected to be approx $2.60 per strip which equated to about $15 per hive if treated twice per year. Camphos was identified as a new but very effective treatment. Accurate dosage was essential however it may not be allowed into NZ. Other solutions were also available via Internet from countries already infected with Varroa.

GENERAL BUSINESS :

DECA Training and Exam : The exam paper had been rewritten to simplify and remove ambiguities. Exam will be held at J’ville on 23 Sept and at Pinehaven on 28 Oct.

Diseaseathon : Will be held on 11 Nov with Wgton suburbs being the intended target area.

Wax Conversion : With current restriction on movement of hive products it was not now possible to send wax to Orari for conversion to foundation. It was suggested wax could be

legitimately sent to Waireka Apiaries at Rongotea or Happy Bee Apiaries at Masterton - cost $2.30 per kg. Ivan Pederson was also willing to buy wax.

Seasonal Hive Management : Season was still one month earlier than usual - beekeepers should be performing their spring checks now and looking for queen cells to prevent swarms.

Propolis : This is too valuable to discard - clean propolis was worth up to $150 per kilo with minimum sale quantity set by Comvita at 200 grams. President suggested use of windbreak propolis mats was a simple but effective way to collect propolis. The purity of propolis from mats was generally higher and therefore more valuable than propolis scraped from frames and boxes. Windbreak cloth was made by Donaghys (Product Code KPWP400) and available in 50m x 1m rolls. Each roll should provide approx 200 mats. Cost varies from $55 - $70 plus GST per roll i.e. 30-40 cents per hive. Once the mat is well-covered with propolis it should be frozen solid and then pulled over a hard edge to force the propolis off the cloth.

Formic Acid : Ivan Pedersen briefly outlined correspondence he had received from MAF suggesting he register with the BioSecurity Authority to enable him to import Formic acid (as an alternative to Apistan). Legal and administrative costs however would be prohibitive.

Organic Beekeeping : Criteria required to claim organic honey was discussed in some detail.

Meeting closed at 9.30 p.m. with supper.

John Burnet