Apiculture New Zealand Conference, 30 June and 1 July 2022
Hundreds of beekeepers, and others from the apiculture industry, will gather in Christchurch this month for ApiNZ’s 6th annual conference and trade exhibition.
This year’s conference will be held at Te Pae Conference Centre, Christchurch on Thursday 30 June and Friday 1 July, with the theme ‘Sharing knowledge, sharing the load for a better future’.
Apiculture New Zealand chief executive Karin Kos says beekeepers are looking forward to reconnecting and discussing some of the big issues facing their industry. “Beekeeping can be a relatively solitary profession, so people look forward to coming together, learning about the latest bee science and industry developments, and catching up with their mates from around the country,” she says.
This year’s keynote speakers include two entomology professors from the United States of America, Dr Sammy Ramsay and Dr Jamie Ellis, who will share research from their specialist fields and how this knowledge can improve outcomes for New Zealand honey bees.
Television personality, former comedian and mental health advocate Mike King will be appearing as ambassador for this year’s chosen ApiNZ conference charity, I Am Hope. He will share about his own experience with mental illness with the aim to change Aotearoa attitudes to mental health.
Other highlights of the conference include the National Honey Competition, where honey producers from across the country vie for medals across a range of categories, and the gala dinner and awards night celebrating successes in innovation, sustainability, research and photography in the apiculture industry.
ENDS