Beyond the frame: where to next for the NZ apiculture sector?

The Apiculture NZ Conference and Trade Exhibition is the largest annual gathering of beekeepers, honey producers and pollination experts in New Zealand.  It is an opportunity to learn, share and celebrate our industry.

This year’s presentations and seminars will explore next steps in apiculture science, markets and practices.

There are also pre-Conference events held on site on Wednesday 28 June as outlined in the programme below.

Programme

Please note, programme is subject to change

WEDNESDAY 28 JUNE

Pre-Conference events & Conference registration

9:00am – 4:30pm 4th NZ Honey bee Research Symposium

What research is the New Zealand science community doing on honey bees and bee products? What are the science challenges in apiculture and how does research in New Zealand align with these industry needs?

This research symposium takes place before the Conference and is for scientists to present, inform and understand the honey bee research landscape in New Zealand. The event is open to anyone interested in honey bee research.

Register & pay here

7:30am – 4:30pm Professional Learning and Development Day

Focus on apprentices: providing a range of unit standards relevant to industry skill requirements.

Find out more here
6:00pm – 8:00pm Roast Dinner Buffet

Venue: Brasserie Poolside Restaurant at the Millennium Hotel

Sponsored by Ecrotek

THURSDAY 29 JUNE

Day One

Time Topic
7.30am Registrations open
Bacon butties provided compliments of Ecrotek
8.30am Mihi whakatau and Conference opening address
Nathan Guy, ApiNZ Chair
Councillor Karen Barker, Rotorua Lakes Council
Hon Todd McClay, MP for Rotorua and National Party Agriculture Spokesman
9:05am Alex Turnbull Chief Executive, Mānuka Health  – Premium Sponsor address
9:10am Keynote address and panel discussion
‘All about COLOSS – a global network to promote honey bee health and wellbeing.’
Dr Peter Neumann, Institute of Bee Health, Switzerland (via live stream)Followed by New Zealand panel discussion with:
Dr Pike Stahlmann-Brown, Principal Economist and Research Priority Area Leader at Manaaki Whenua (Land Research) and
Dr Oksana Borowik, NZ COLOSS Representative and commercial beekeeper
10:15am Morning Break
10:45am Keynote address and panel discussion
‘What’s going on with queens?’
Prof. David Tarpy, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, USAFollowed by New Zealand panel discussion with:
Frans Laas, Director Betta Bees Research and Carlos Zevallos, Head of Apiary Development, Comvita
12:00pm Lunch

Includes ApiNZ National Honey Competition Awards ceremony at 12.35
Sponsored by Kiwi Labels Ltd
Honey available for tasting in the Honey Room from 1pm
1:00pm The impact of severe weather events on the apiculture sector. Sharing the lessons learnt from Cyclone Gabrielle

A panel discussion with beekeepers from affected regions

Panellists include Barry Foster (Gisborne/Tairawhiti),  Oksana Borowik (Coromandel) and Richard Kidd (Northland)
1:45pm AFB Pest Management Update

Clifton King
National Compliance Manager, AFB Pest Management Agency
2:15pm Afternoon Break
3:00pm SEMINAR SESSIONS 

SCIENCE SEMINAR & PANEL DISCUSSION – AUDITORIUM
‘Adding value to New Zealand’s bee products using innovative science.’

This panel discussion will explore the use of science to add a value to food products looking at what other industries and countries have achieved. The panel will then discuss what science we can use in New Zealand to achieve the same success with our own bee products.

Zac Robinson, Cofounder/Co CEO, Arepa
Barry Foster, Beekeeper/owner, Tawari Apiaries

Facilitator: Megan Grainger

BETTER BUSINESS SESSION – HILL LABS ROOM
– Running a beekeeping business in tough times
– Resilience
– Succession planning

Panellists include Russell Marsh commercial beekeeper, Steve Jackson, non-commercial beekeeper and accountant, Marc Gascgoine, Dairy Farmer (via Farmstrong)
3:45pm SCIENCE SEMINAR & PANEL DISCUSSION – AUDITORIUM

Varroa what we currently know and where do we need to go.

An interactive panel discussion discussing the current challenges faced by beekeepers managing varroa, what current tools are available to manage varroa better and what do we need to do as an industry to manage varroa successful in the future.

Panellists include:

Carlos Zevallos, Comvita (beekeeper perspective)
Hayley Pragert, MPI (government perspective)
Michelle Taylor PFR (research perspective)
Phil Lester, VUW (research perspective)

HONEY SESSION – OPUS INTERNATIONAL ROOM

“The Art of Tasting Honey”

A hands on introduction to the art of sensory analysis and honey appreciation.

Led by National Honey Judge Maureen Conquer
4:45pm  NZ Beeswax Trade Buzz function
6:30pm End of NZ Beeswax Trade Buzz function

FRIDAY 30 JUNE

Day Two

Time Topic
7.30am Registrations open
Bacon butties provided compliments of Ecrotek
8.00am ApiNZ AGM
9:15am Keynote Address
Coming out of Winter
Prof. David Tarpy, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State university, USA
10:15am Morning Break
10:45am Keynote Address
The biology and control of Small Hive Beetle
Dr Peter Neumann, Institute of Bee Health, Switzerland (via live stream)
11:15am Taking on Varroa mite – an insight into how Australia is dealing with the arrival of this insidious pest

Danny Le Feuvre, Chief Executive of the Australia Honey Bee Council
12:00pm Lunch

Includes ApiNZ National Photography Competition Awards ceremony at 12.35
Sponsored by NZ Beeswax
1:00pm The government you want vs the government you’ll get – prospects for the 2023 election

Pattrick Smellie, Editor and co-founder of BusinessDesk
1:45pm The Market Session – industry panel discussion

What’s driving international demand for NZ honey?

A panel of market experts will share insights into what the year (and years) ahead might look like for different honey categories in different markets. The panelists will also offer thoughts on how beekeepers can best respond to the changing demands on exporters from overseas customers.

Sean Goodwin (The Mānuka Collective)
Rebecca Margetts (Taylor Pass Honey)
Katherine Brundell (Oha Honey)

Facilitator: Campbell Naish (UMFHA)
2:30pm Afternoon Break
3:00pm SEMINAR SESSIONS 

MPI PANEL DISCUSSION AND UPDATE FOR THE APICULTURE INDUSTRY – AUDITORIUM

MPI Panel includes:
Leone Basher and Ursula Egan, Market Access
Claire McDonald, Mānuka Honey Science Definition
Duncan Lash, New Zealand Food Safety reassessment and regulatory work

VARROA SENSITIVE HYGIENE WORKSHOP – HILL LABS ROOM 

‘How Beekeepers can identify and retain Varroa Resistance traits their own bee populations’

Rae Butler and Linda Newstrom-Lloyd from the Varroa Resistance Breeding project
3:45pm International Keynote Speakers – Q&A

Dr Peter Neumann, Institute of Bee Health, Switzerland (via live stream)
Prof. David Tarpy, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State
4:35pm Conference Close – ApiNZ Board Chair Nathan Guy
6:30pm GALA DINNER AND AWARDS NIGHT

Venue: Rotorua Energy Events Centre

Sponsored by The Mānuka Collective