Summary
A new initiative, the New Zealand Honey and Bee Alliance, aims to strengthen the country's honey sector by uniting key industry players, including producers, beekeepers, and exporters. Chair Murray Bush explains that the alliance, officially named the AOT of Bee Sector Alliance, seeks to address challenges within the honey supply chain and improve overall industry stability. Alongside this, a new industry body, Honey and Bees New Zealand, has emerged from the merger of two previous organizations, providing a unified voice for beekeepers for the first time in 25 years.
The honey industry has experienced significant fluctuations over the past decade, with a dramatic boom followed by a severe downturn between 2019 and 2025. Bush highlights that the industry faced a supply-demand imbalance, exacerbated by adverse weather conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the sector is recovering, with prices stabilizing, but the alliance is focused on preventing future downturns through better data collection and communication among stakeholders.
One of the pressing issues facing beekeepers is the Varroa mite, which poses a significant threat to hive health across different regions of New Zealand. Bush notes that while there are treatment options available, they are not entirely effective, leading to substantial hive losses. The alliance is prioritizing research and collaboration to develop more targeted solutions to combat this issue, which is crucial for the economic sustainability of beekeeping in New Zealand.
Show Notes
In June 2026 Apiculture New Zealand (ApiNZ) members voted to reform ApiNZ into a new industry body called Honey and Bees New Zealand (HBNZ).
As a voluntary organisation, HBNZ’s purpose is to advocate for, and deliver tangible benefits to, the New Zealand beekeeping sector with a stronger focus on commercial beekeeping.
Recently appointed Chair of Honey & Bees New Zealand, Murray Bush, joined the show to discuss what this development will mean for our honey sector. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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