PRESENT: Frank Lindsay (Pres.), John Burnet (Secretary) and 27 members and visitors as listed in the attendance book.

APOLOGIES: Mary Ann Lindsay, Vicki Alexander, Les Solomon, Ray Baker, Gary Milne, Noel Bolton, John Robson.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Minutes of meeting held 11 December 2000 as detailed in Feb newsletter were confirmed.

MATTERS ARISING: Varroa Update: A breach of the boundary line between the infected zone and the surveillance zone at Turangi had been reported and was under investigation by MAF & NBA. If confirmed prosecution of the offending beekeeper was very likely. Auckland varroa experience has shown that hives are succumbing in 14 months not 4 years as experienced overseas. A nation-wide varroa check was planned for the spring using a 20km grid system.

Diseasathon: Frank Lindsay advised next disease check will be held in April with exact date to be advised at the March meeting. Area to be covered will be northern Upper Hutt and northern Whitemans Valleys – areas both missed during the Nov 2000 Diseaseathon.

NBA Administration: Richard Hatfield advised beekeepers should report any AgriQual admin and ADR errors or inefficiency to Tim Leslie, Exec Secretary, Federated Farmers. Base and hive levies were likely to be introduced to ALL beekeepers next year to cover disease control and apiary registration. This may result in some hobbyists giving up beekeeping. A donation by hobbyists to NBA may be a better alternative but not necessarily practical.

TREASURER’S REPORT: Balances of all accounts were outlined to members. Secretary advised he had received the annual account from the Union Church for 2001 lounge hire. Previously cost was $297 per annum (based on 1.5 hours per meeting) but as meetings generally lasted 2 hours it was considered annual hireage should be $396 per annum. Payment of increased amount was proposed by Amor Walter and seconded by Frank Lindsay.

CORRESPONDENCE: Newsletters had been received from Taranaki Amateur Beekeeping Club and the Christchurch Hobbyist Beekeeping Club.

GENERAL BUSINESS: Stainless Steel Mesh: An offer to sell club members a roll of s.s. mesh had been received. Cut into 150 squares these could be used to monitor varroa on the bottom of hives. Each hive-sized piece would effectively cost $6.67 although using smaller pieces would also work and cost less. For several reasons there was insufficient interest from members to justify purchasing a roll at this stage.

Seasonal Management: Members reported strong honey flows and good crops in the Wellington and Hutt Valley suburban areas however Frank advised that many beekeepers in the South Waikato and Taupo districts had reported a very poor season to date.

Members’ Queries: Use of Ross rounds and section honey was discussed and it was generally agreed bees require forcing into frames with sections. Ivan Pedersen advised he obtained good results by using half-sized frames for his section honey. Ivan also demonstrated his homemade tool for scraping manuka honey off the foundation.

A tiny unknown insect recently found in some local hives was passed around among members and identified as a pseudo scorpion (apparently not uncommon in hives and also not a problem to bees or honey).

Amor Walter produced a mock-up showing his use of aluminium curtain track for holding white plasticised corrugated cardboard in hives (used as varroa monitoring boards).

A brief video was shown to members filmed at club member Ivan Pedersen’s recent marriage ceremony – both groom and bride were dressed in full beekeeping suits complete with zipped up veils, gloves and attached hive tools. Club members extended their congratulations and good wishes to Ivan & Nina.

Meeting closed at 9.15 p.m. with usual supper.

John Burnet