Tuesday, 13 January 2026 12:23

Stinging response

Written by  The Hound

OPINION: MPI's response to the yellow-legged hornet has received a mixed report card from New Zealand Beekeeping Inc (NZBI), with praise for the Ministry's expansion of response funding and front-line efforts in Auckland, but a sting in the tail - criticising MPI for not focusing enough on regions outside the big smoke.

By New Year's Eve, MPI and Biosecurity NZ had successfully located and destroyed 39 queen hornets, 26 of which had been nest building, according to Apiarist's Advocate, thanks to intensive trapping and monitoring.

But NZBI says MPI needs to "shed the lone hero persona" and "must expect and receive full-throated community and industry support".

NZBI says it just wants MPI to think more long-term and more nationwide about the response to the yellow peril.


 Read More:


 

More like this

Third H5 Bird Flu Case Found in NZ Wild Bird

Testing confirms H5 bird flu in a single northern giant petrel, found dead on a remote Cape Palliser beach in the Wairarapa, says Dr Mary van Andel, the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) Chief Veterinary Officer.

Layered Plan Needed To Fight BVD

Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is sometimes viewed as a dairy industry issue, but the reality is that the disease can have serious consequences for beef breeding herds as well.

Featured

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'LinkedIn Greens'

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…

UK Warning

OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter