Tuesday, 13 January 2026 12:23

Stinging response

Written by The Hound

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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.

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