PRESENT: Frank Lindsay (Pres.), Mary Ann Lindsay (Treasurer), John Burnet (Secretary) and 42 members and visitors as listed in the attendance book.

APOLOGIES: John Robson, Fritz Fuchs, John Wallace, Jeff Pollard.

NEW MEMBERS AND VISITORS: Bob Porter (Hataitai), Justin Topzand (Waitakere), Vaughan Kearns (Ohakune/Waimarino).

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Minutes of meeting held 11 September as detailed in Oct newsletter were confirmed.

MATTERS ARISING: Varroa Zone Boundary: Frank Lindsay advised that discussions/ negotiations were continuing with all affected beekeepers over the line to be established between the Infected and Surveillance zones. Southern NI beekeepers wanted the Waimarino district to be included in the Surveillance zone however a small number of Northern NI beekeepers wanted the Waimarino "bubble" included in the Infected zone so they could move their Manuka hives back to Bay of Plenty after the Manuka had finished flowering. The location of the line at East Cape had now been decided after some discussion between BOP and Gisborne beekeepers.

It was emphasised that arrival of the Varroa mite in the Wellington district was only a matter of time and the likely first infestation points would be at truck stops with three places at Levin, Otaki and Plimmerton in particular being identified. Surveillance hives should be set up early at these points.

Apistan strips were likely to cost $4 each not $2.60 as previously mentioned. Other products such as Formic Acid were currently under investigation or being registered.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Balance of working account was currently $2,856.55 with two outstanding cheques for $200 (bond for Pinehaven Hall) and $62.50. 51% of NZ beekeepers have DECA certification and to date 1149 NZ beekeepers have passed the DECA exam.

MAF REPORT: Six beekeepers from the Wellington club attended a training course at Longburn on Sat 7 Oct and as accredited Level 2 Authorised Persons and can now inspect hives for Varroa (and other bee diseases) under AgriQual direction/supervision.

Richard Hatfield (new NBA President) advised that non-compliance by beekeepers was a major concern and indications were that 30 - 40% of apiary sites were unregistered. To ensure Varroa surveillance and control is applied to ALL hives and apiaries, also to maximise funds for this purpose, NBA will adopt a strong line on this issue and prosecute all offending beekeepers. All beekeepers were encouraged to report all suspected unregistered and unlabelled apiary sites (including grid reference if possible) to Tim Leslie (NBA Secretary) at Federated Farmers in Wellington.

DISEASEATHON: Scheduled for 11 Nov. It was agreed that Upper Hutt hives should be inspected this year because of AFB found during 1997 Diseasathon at Whitemans Valley.

Inspection of Wellington urban hives will be postponed until autumn.

HIVE MANAGEMENT: Season was still about a month early and most hives were now ready for another super. Beekeepers were recommended to check hives now for swarm cells. The 10-second swarm cell check is a good compromise for a full check of all brood boxes. This procedure requires the brood boxes to be split and the second box tilted to a sufficient angle to see along the bottom bars of this brood box. If swarm cells were seen a full inspection was necessary, as more swarm cells were likely elsewhere in the hive.

Other swarm prevention options discussed:

Overcrowding – a first honey super is probably needed now not when the main honey flow starts in Wellington in late Nov/early Dec.

Reversing brood boxes (two or three times during spring as needed) will compensate for the continual general upward movement of the queen and brood and provide more space for the brood.

Ventilation – adequate air movement prevents moisture or excessive heat build-up in the summer that results in bees "hanging out".

Interchanging hives - swap weak and strong hives over during the day while field bees are out. This reduces the strength of the stronger hive.

Artificial swarming is the ideal solution - new nucleus colonies consisting of two or three frames of brood and two frames of honey and pollen are made using queen cells (or a caged queen). These nucleii can be united with the parent hives later in the season or kept as separate colonies. Artificial swarming reduces the strength of the parent colony and the risk of swarming is substantially removed.

Use non-swarming strains – dark bees will always overcome yellow bees. When hiving a swarm or uniting colonies, dump black bees on the ground well clear of the hive to avoid retention of the black queen.

VARROA – Ivan Pedersen suggested that the Auckland experience with Varroa could not be compared with Denmark or Finland, as the climates were very different. Unlike Auckland (and NZ generally) the summer season in Northern Europe is very short and Varroa spread much slower there than it does in NZ.

Ivan produced a plastic floorboard he had imported from Denmark, which incorporated an inspection panel. He outlined the Danish practice for controlling Varroa – in essence continual removal and cutting out of drone cells, constant supervision (30 times per year), use of 10 frames per box to reduce space for drone comb.

Ivan suggested the use of Pinex pieces soaked in 250 mls 85% Formic acid, kept in sealed plastic bags until required. After honey is removed from the hive, bags are then slit to release fumes and left on the hive for 6 days. This procedure must be used in conjunction with drone brood removal.

To minimise costs it was suggested club members could make up and sell these Formic Acid boards (NOTE: NZ regulations require Formic Acid to be diluted to 65% due to Dangerous Goods restrictions).

Another Varroa control option requires the implementation of a 27day non-brood period using a Waldron queen excluder.

VARROA – Waimarino Valley. Vaughan Kearns further clarified the Waimarino situation and following considerable discussion it was agreed that the Wellington Club would support the proposal to draw the Infected Zone/Surveillance Zone line north of the district so that hives from the infected Bay of Plenty region could not be brought into area.

It was agreed (carried unanimously) that the following motion be forwarded to the Minister of Agriculture, with copies to Tim Leslie (NBA Sec.), Helen Barnard and Paul Bolger (MAF Varroa Control team):

"The boundary line between the Varroa Infected area and the Surveillance area should logically be drawn along the last natural geographic barrier from Mt Messenger to Mt Ruapehu (i.e. NORTH not SOUTH of the Waimarino district), therefore minimising the risk of Varroa reaching southern North Island and South Island beekeepers or at least prolonging their mite-free status for as long as possible."

Meeting closed at 9.30 pm with usual supper.

John Burnet