PRESENT : Frank Lindsay (Pres.), Mary Ann Lindsay (Treasurer), John Burnet (Secretary) and 32 members and visitors as listed in the attendance book.

APOLOGIES : Amor Walter, John Robson, Marie Christoffel, Gary Murphy, Frank Clark, Ivan Pedersen.

NEW MEMBERS AND VISITORS : Harold Mataira (Johnsonville), Claire Brown (Wainuiomata), Yanik Freeman (Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada).

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING : Minutes of meeting held 9 October as detailed in Nov newsletter were confirmed.

MATTERS ARISING : Varroa Update : As detailed in recent letter from MAF to all North Island beekeepers, the boundary line between the Infected zone and the Surveillance zone has now been drawn. A 10 km wide boundary error extends between the two zones with two bubbles at Raetihi and Tikitiki (East Cape) where the boundary area is wider than 10km. Special restrictions will be placed on hives moving from the north into this Boundary Area.

Paul Bolger (MAF’s Varroa Program Co-ordinator) gave an update on the Management Program, advised Govt’s surveillance fund was now available and confirmed Wellington, as a primary gateway to the South Island, would be a major target for movement control measures. Two Varroa control products had now been registered – Apistan and Bayeroll.

Diseasathon : 191 hives in 33 apiaries were inspected by the three teams with AFB found in 16 hives (7 apiaries). One hive found with AFB in Akatarawa contained the disease in an inspection two years earlier i.e. beekeeper had not destroyed the hive following first inspection. One team reported three completely neglected hives at one house in Silverstream (hives were unable to be inspected due to their poor condition – seemingly hives had not been opened or inspected since last Diseaseathon inspection in 1997).

It was agreed all non-compliance issues (including absence of apiary labelling) should be noted on the inspection form. A return inspection in March 2001 was recommended to complete areas not inspected and check for destruction of AFB infected hives. Legal access by authorised inspectors to apiary sites was discussed and conditions/powers outlined.

Seasonal Management: The season was still early with kamahi and pohutukawa currently in flower and kiwifruit only 7 – 10 days away.

TREASURER’S REPORT : Balances of all accounts were outlined to members and Diseaseathon expenses of $115.65 were ratified.

PRESENTATION : Paul Bolger spoke and showed a number of slides about his two seasons working in a Package Bee Apiary in Georgia USA.

Yanik Freeman briefly outlined the challenges of beekeeping in the Yukon especially in winter.

Meeting closed at 9.30 pm with usual supper.

John Burnet