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.

Download Conference Programme pdf here

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

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

Symposium schedule and abstracts 2023

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

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

6:00pm – 8:00pm

Roast Dinner Buffet

Venue: Brasserie Poolside Restaurant at the Millennium Hotel

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

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

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

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

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)

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

REGISTRATION ENQUIRIES
E: jennifer@eventdynamics.co.nz

GENERAL CONFERENCE ENQUIRIES
James Chatterley
E: james@eventdynamics.co.nz
M: 021 777 928

SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES
Any businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities or trade stands, please contact: amy@eventdynamics.co.nz