increase font size
Hundreds of beekeepers, packers and industry trade and suppliers will converge in Rotorua next month for Apiculture New Zealand’s national conference.
“The annual conference is the opportunity for our industry to get together and look at how we can grow value and share knowledge, critical in today’s more difficult climate,” says Karin Kos, chief executive, Apiculture New Zealand.
The Conference, at the Rotorua Events Centre from Thursday June 27 to Saturday 29 June is also the opportunity to showcase the talents and efforts of people in the apiculture industry, including the honeys and bee products they produce.
The National Honey Competition, sponsored by Kiwi Labels, is a highlight of conference with the best honeys in the country vying for the top awards.
“We are always excited to be involved with the best of the best, in the honey products space,” says Kevin Powell, of Kiwi Labels. “Year on year we see a high calibre of honey and honey products which show dedication, passion, pride and initiative from their creators, with a little help from their buzzy friends.
Powell said they looked forward to being part of the journey and helping to market these products, with their award-winning labels, for the enjoyment and benefit of people around the globe.
There are 12 different honey classes ranging from clear to creamed honey, from manuka honey to mead and honeycomb. The honey judges are world-class and the honeys must meet an internationally recognised scales of points. The programme covers a full three days, includes a discussion on the challenges of our honey market and the international marketing of manuka honey. International keynote speakers include Dr. Sammy Ramsey, Dr. Juliana Rangel-Posada, and Alisha Taff who are travelling from the United States to share their beekeeping knowledge and experience with Kiwi delegates. Topics covered by these speakers include reversal of the effects of the infamous Varroa mite on bee health, the biology of mating, producing organic honey and latest industry trends.
A big shakeup in the honey sector is about to take place with the news that the industry good body, ApiNZ, and the export focused Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association are looking to merge to form a new industry body.
Thousands of honey retailers and professionals worldwide are getting a taste of the remarkable properties of New Zealand mānuka honey.
After three years of record performance, mānuka honey exporter and retailer Comvita has reported an annual net loss of $77 million.
Bee awareness month - September - ended on a high for the struggling apiculture sector.
While confident that the apiculture sector can meet its target of doubling honey exports by 2030, chair of ApicultureNZ, Nathan Guy, says it will be challenging.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.
