1 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Kiyota. 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. Bees are 4 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:22,080 Speaker 2: tiny but mighty players in New Zealand's environment and economy. 5 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 2: They pollinate our gardens, native plants and crucial crops, supporting 6 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:33,600 Speaker 2: biodiversity and food production across the country. But an invasive 7 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 2: threat is looming, the Queen yellow legged hornet. Since June, 8 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:45,120 Speaker 2: Biosecurity New Zealand has confirmed several detections of these pests 9 00:00:45,240 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 2: across Auckland. Today on the front Page, Mahurangi Honey's Pete 10 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 2: Johnston is with us to chat local honeymaking and why 11 00:00:53,960 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 2: bees are so important. So Pete, can you tell me 12 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 2: how crucial are bees to New Zealand's environment and agriculture sector. 13 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,040 Speaker 1: Well, it's very important actually, because you know, they're big 14 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,720 Speaker 1: on pollination. They not only pollination pollinate for the agricultural sector, 15 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 1: but they also pollinate native species, you know, which regeneration 16 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 1: of native bush which helps the ecosystems. 17 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 3: Yeah, pollinate seventy five percent of our food do we eat. 18 00:01:27,480 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 2: I often read things about you know, if the health 19 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 2: of bees is in decline, then we're in big troubles 20 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,400 Speaker 2: because there's such a huge part of the ecosystem. 21 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:41,399 Speaker 3: Hey, most definitely, Yes, most definitely. 22 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 2: So what's this hornet that everyone's so worried about at 23 00:01:45,200 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 2: the moment, and why is it such a huge biosecurity 24 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 2: risk for New Zealand. 25 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 3: Well, at threatens of bees. They prey on the bees. 26 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: They're they're probably similar to the German wasp, which we've 27 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: already been dealing with for quite a while in New Zealand. 28 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: Was there bees, They'll they'll go in there and just 29 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 1: pretty much annihilate them. They'll they'll eat the bees for protein, 30 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: they'll eat the honey for carbohydrates. They'll just thrive, you know, 31 00:02:13,280 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: take the German wass for example. In the past that 32 00:02:17,200 --> 00:02:19,440 Speaker 1: they've come into the New Zealand. They've got no predators. 33 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: They're very adaptable to the resources around them. We had 34 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: apriy up north a little bit. We left them with 35 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 1: a couple of boxes of honey on them. They were 36 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: very strong, fifteen hives on that particular site after harvest 37 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: so sore looking at January, and we didn't bother putting 38 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: our entrance guards on, which sort of gives them a 39 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: little form of protection. And we came back about a 40 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:47,920 Speaker 1: couple of months later and there was these big German moss. 41 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 3: They found them and they're just nailing them. 42 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 1: They'd taken out sixty six percent of that apriy, you know. 43 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 1: So it's a big problem. Yeah, and not only problems 44 00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,840 Speaker 1: for us, but also for a you know, for the 45 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 1: species in New Zealand. They've got the potential to take 46 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: out all the vertebrates in New Zealand on once they 47 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: get going. 48 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, because I see reports of the queens being found, 49 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 2: and there seems to be a specific mention of the 50 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 2: queens being in constructing a nest, or being in the 51 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: throes of construction for a nest. How important is it 52 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,079 Speaker 2: that it doesn't actually solidify? And what happens when they 53 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 2: get the nest? Are they making a home for all 54 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 2: their millions of buddies or is the queen pregnant or 55 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 2: what happens there? 56 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: Well, from my understanding, once again, they'd be similar to 57 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: German German moss does. In between March and February, they 58 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: go into a mating program of their own. 59 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 3: They'll mate, they'll make about one. 60 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: Thousand to two thousand queens, and then those queens will 61 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:53,560 Speaker 1: go out hybrid and aw'll be already pregnant and are 62 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 1: the beggs and them ready to go? And after winter 63 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: they'll come out. In each queen, there's a potential to 64 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 1: start a new colony. 65 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 3: These wantings are pretty much the same. 66 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: They don't make as many, I think from my understanding, 67 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: to make on an average about three hundred and three 68 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,760 Speaker 1: point fifty. They can get up to five hundred queens 69 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:17,239 Speaker 1: through in a season, probably about the same time as 70 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 1: the German wasp and the common wasp, and they'll go 71 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 1: and hibernate and then from there so it just goes 72 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,919 Speaker 1: pretty much you do the maths on, it's pretty much exponential. 73 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: So it's really important to nip it in the bud. Now, 74 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:36,719 Speaker 1: you know, the MPI, Partner's Conservation, whoever, any government department, 75 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:39,480 Speaker 1: they need to really get on board and get whatever 76 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:42,720 Speaker 1: resources they can get in there to deal with this critter. 77 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:44,920 Speaker 2: Yeah, well you mentioned the moth. 78 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 3: What else? 79 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 2: Bees threatened by Argentine. 80 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 3: Nance is another problem. They've been around. 81 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: Quite noticeable around the pretty much the whole coastline of 82 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,359 Speaker 1: New Zealand, and they're a whack with the balance of 83 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,440 Speaker 1: things here too, and they got the potential to go 84 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: into a carnooka tree and get behind a big weather 85 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: for example, and just eat it alive. We've seen an 86 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: area firsthand where you know, a couple of kill meters 87 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,920 Speaker 1: that way and a couple of kilometers that way, a 88 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 1: couple of kill meters that way, where the Argentine ance 89 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:22,720 Speaker 1: are just everywhere. It doesn't matter what you pick up 90 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: that they're there. The Department and Conservation aware of the problem, 91 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 1: but how to deal with it is a big one. 92 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: We're really conscious conscious of when we move gear from 93 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 1: those sites that we don't take the ants with us 94 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:39,920 Speaker 1: to another site. That those particular sites we have our 95 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,559 Speaker 1: bees up on pallets, on legs and motes of water 96 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: or grease on rides of steel, so the ants can't 97 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 1: get up and attack the bees because they will. 98 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 3: Once again, they're no different to the wasp or these these. 99 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: Adocrits, these hornets, where you know, they get off on 100 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 1: them the protein and the carbohydrates from the honey. 101 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 3: So the full rob mode. The bees are freaking out. 102 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, they pick on the weak highs first and then 103 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: as they go through those week hives they get stronger 104 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: and then it gives them the power the force to 105 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: get into the more stronger heights and take the email 106 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:20,679 Speaker 1: as well. 107 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 4: Bumblebees have particularly large and heavy bodies, and flight for 108 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 4: them can be a real effort. That's particularly so in 109 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 4: spring when the mornings are cold and queen bumblebees are 110 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:43,600 Speaker 4: just emerging from their winter sleep. It's only a few 111 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,160 Speaker 4: degrees above freezing, but a queen needs to get started 112 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 4: early to look for food. 113 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 2: How well do you think that the biosecurity system supports 114 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 2: local beekeepers in managing those invasive species. 115 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 5: We've had a f B American foul brood in the 116 00:07:04,360 --> 00:07:07,360 Speaker 5: country for a long time and that's one of the 117 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 5: one of the things that are hot on and they've 118 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 5: got quite a good system where they've got a digital system. 119 00:07:13,040 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: As a beekeeper or anybody that's got bees, it's by 120 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:18,040 Speaker 1: law you have to report if you. 121 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 3: Do get a f B. 122 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: It's like a bacterium that gets into the hives and 123 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 1: it affects the brood, and by law you've got to 124 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: report it. Basically, dig a hole and put the box 125 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:34,280 Speaker 1: and b's in the hole and burn them. 126 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 3: And it's as simple as that. It's quite a good system, 127 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 3: so they're on board there. 128 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: They've got quite good resources and tracking for all that 129 00:07:42,440 --> 00:07:45,280 Speaker 1: sort of thing. They notify the beekeepers within a five 130 00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: k radius if it's reported, so that that particular thing's 131 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: really good. As far as the variamites that have come 132 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: into the country. There's another example of something coming in. 133 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 1: There's been a burial pain in the butt that came 134 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: in two thousand, in twenty two, and we're dealing with it. 135 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 3: It's very expensive to deal. 136 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 1: With How much does it cost to deal with well, 137 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: I can imagine like a fairly established size company running 138 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 1: maybe two or three thousand hives. 139 00:08:18,400 --> 00:08:20,800 Speaker 3: You know, they've been looking at probably about twenty. 140 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:23,720 Speaker 1: Thousand dollars every six months and treatments to deal with it. 141 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: So the pharmaceutical companies that are providing these goods for it, 142 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 1: they're rubbing their hands together, but they are poor or beekeepers. 143 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:33,880 Speaker 1: They've really you know, they can't manage as many hives 144 00:08:33,920 --> 00:08:35,440 Speaker 1: as what they used to do. As a matter of fact, 145 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: we've actually backed off. We've backed off. We're in a 146 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:41,079 Speaker 1: small company and it's just my wife and I. My 147 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,439 Speaker 1: son helps us, and we've downsized just so we can 148 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 1: manage our bees a bit better and keep them healthy. 149 00:08:47,200 --> 00:08:50,720 Speaker 1: Because things can quickly easily get out of control. For example, 150 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 1: if you have a really good honey flow like we've 151 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 1: had in the last couple of years, be populations pick 152 00:08:57,000 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 1: up from about five to ten thousand bees up to 153 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 1: about forty even sixty thousand bees per hive, and then 154 00:09:06,080 --> 00:09:08,720 Speaker 1: say January, you'll take the honey off and then the 155 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 1: bee population comes down, but the mic population is still there. 156 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: It's increased with population with those bee populations, and they 157 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,319 Speaker 1: just smash the bees hard in autumn. 158 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,320 Speaker 3: They're a real problem, Yeah, real problem. 159 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: Is there anything that can be done about them, like 160 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 2: to eradicate them completely or do you just have to 161 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 2: live with the consequences of having them there now? 162 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, that's pretty much it, I think. 163 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:34,600 Speaker 1: And you know, like we've got a lot of young 164 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: enthusiastic guys coming through and we're kind of hoping how 165 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 1: the country's working on it as well, New Zealand and Australia. 166 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 3: Australia has just got it. 167 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 1: We're getting mailed by it quite hard because we have 168 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,560 Speaker 1: big populations of bees on our honey flows. 169 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 3: Yeah. 170 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:50,440 Speaker 1: In other countries where it's a bit more cool up 171 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,920 Speaker 1: in Europe, they have a brewd break the bees. The 172 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,559 Speaker 1: queens stop laying so they don't get They don't get 173 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: them as bad as what we do. There are I 174 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:01,120 Speaker 1: think there are different species of my and maybe even 175 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:05,280 Speaker 1: different strains they may. My prediction is they probably more 176 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: than likely sort of like hot fybridiz, they may you know, 177 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:14,439 Speaker 1: evolve stronger, you know, sort of yeah, that way there, 178 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 1: because we've got other problems coming up in the future, 179 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,800 Speaker 1: possibly where they become resistance to some of the organic 180 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: or generic treatments that we're thrown at them, you know, eg, 181 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:26,240 Speaker 1: Like the ones that we get from the pharmaceuticals to 182 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 1: to bring the light. Might levels right down in autumn 183 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: when there's no honey on there. That's when you treat them, 184 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 1: and you might levels right down, and then they'll they'll 185 00:10:36,679 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: come slightly come back up again the next season. 186 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 3: With you know, the bee population coming up. 187 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: One of the problems we faces, like the last couple 188 00:10:45,160 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: of seasons have been really swarm seasons. 189 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,319 Speaker 3: So if you haven't got control of the a breeze, 190 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:51,239 Speaker 3: they'll swarm. 191 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,080 Speaker 1: I mean that's a great thing, but if a bee 192 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,679 Speaker 1: colony goes into a tree you haven't got to bee 193 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: keeper caring for it, they'll die out over late autumn 194 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 1: winter and then we'll treat our bees and they'll be 195 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,640 Speaker 1: all all good. But then they'll go and rob the 196 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 1: honey off the bese and the trees that have or cows, 197 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 1: sheep walls, et cetera that are wild that have gone feral, 198 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 1: and bring the mites back, and you'll have reinfestation of 199 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,120 Speaker 1: these mites. So we've got mites, we've got Argentine hands, 200 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 1: we've got German wasp and common moss. We do not 201 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: need the Asian hornets, yellow leg torn No, it. 202 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 2: Sounds like you're dealing with a whole bunch of stuff already. 203 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:37,200 Speaker 2: So I can imagine why you guys are worried. What 204 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 2: worries you most about the future of beekeeping in New Zealand, 205 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:43,439 Speaker 2: Well that. 206 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,199 Speaker 1: In particular, Like I know the beekeepers and they're really enthusiastic, 207 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 1: really innovaded, highly motivated, educated, and they put they've got 208 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,040 Speaker 1: everything on the line. There's already big companies going bust 209 00:11:57,080 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: at the moment because you know, with the on running 210 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:06,079 Speaker 1: costs and honey's come down in price a bit, they 211 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: are struggling. They've got everything on the line. So it's 212 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:11,800 Speaker 1: going to make it it's going to make it even 213 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: more tricky. They've got something else to deal with like 214 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:17,440 Speaker 1: this creature. So we've only got a short window of 215 00:12:17,480 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: opportunity to get it, and that's pretty much between now 216 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: and winter. So MPI Department's conservation, they're pretty much got 217 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 1: to throw everything at it, even to the point probably 218 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 1: where some ideas, you know, like I like the idea 219 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: where they're putting pamphlets out in the Glenfield area where 220 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: it's been found, educating people. People in the Glenfield area 221 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,760 Speaker 1: need to google this creature, become familiar with it. 222 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:42,559 Speaker 3: You know, it's easy to do. 223 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 1: It's pretty distinctive in its appearances. They need to get 224 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: to get on board with that and go out there 225 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,679 Speaker 1: looking for it. The government departments could possibly look at 226 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:55,400 Speaker 1: getting private contractors, and there are contractors out there that 227 00:12:55,480 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: eradicate rates and weeds and stuff like that. 228 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,199 Speaker 3: I'm sure people on the ground you know. 229 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:08,200 Speaker 4: This far. 230 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:13,000 Speaker 3: I gotta say something. You're like jazz. You're talking to humans. 231 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:17,000 Speaker 1: You're flying outside behind very deep beats there. 232 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 2: So you see soda spilled on a sidewalk and you 233 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 2: don't drink it. 234 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 4: Is a little bee. He's not bothering anybody. 235 00:13:23,679 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 2: Get out of here, your creep discovering a big secret. 236 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 3: How did this get here? 237 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: Is this honeyberry just is stealing cute bee? 238 00:13:31,840 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 4: Golden blossom? Rayly Yoda private select. 239 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 2: It does seem like quite a slippery slope if it 240 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:44,720 Speaker 2: does take hold. Can you remember when I suppose the 241 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 2: first couple of moths were found, or the first couple 242 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 2: of those ants were found, how quickly did they take hold? 243 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:54,440 Speaker 3: Well they did with a moth, I can. 244 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: I can quite clearly remember the the orion circling Auckland's 245 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: wise And I don't know what they were spraying around 246 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: in the skies. I don't know if that's a street 247 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:06,640 Speaker 1: that we need to go up. That's that's that'd be 248 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: a major concern, especially spraying over a populated area. I'm 249 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: sure they'll get a lot of flak from that. That's 250 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: a big, big one. That's where he needs a lot 251 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 1: of thought. 252 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:18,719 Speaker 3: But suit me. 253 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: People on the ground doing surveillance, traps, lots of traps 254 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: they can use out there to try and catch it, 255 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:31,000 Speaker 1: and basically looking looking on northern slopes, warm gullies around 256 00:14:31,040 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: that area. If it makes its way out of that 257 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 1: area into the bush, she's pretty much over read rover. 258 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:38,920 Speaker 1: We won't get it. Yeah, if it's anything like the 259 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: German boss. 260 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 2: How can everyday ordinary New Zealanders try and help not 261 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 2: only looking out for this was, but for bees in general. 262 00:14:48,120 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 2: I mean I've seen videos of people sprinkling wildflowers in 263 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 2: their in their gardens or something. I mean, does that 264 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 2: stuff actually work? 265 00:14:56,040 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 3: I think so? 266 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: Yeah, great, that'd be great year Like borage and herbs, 267 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: they could look at look it up fruit trees in 268 00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 1: the back yard. They'll better prosper from the pollination as well. 269 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 1: You know, the pollinations off the scale. If you've got 270 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 1: bees around, maybe it's being mindful when they're using herbicides 271 00:15:13,680 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: and then sector sides if they decide to use them 272 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:21,040 Speaker 1: and use them spearingly. If you can pull out a weed, 273 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:25,240 Speaker 1: pull it out, don't need to spray it. Thistles, for example, 274 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: you don't need to spray this was. We used to 275 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:29,440 Speaker 1: just grub them with a grub. It's just as quick, 276 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:32,440 Speaker 1: good workout. You don't need to go to the gym 277 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:36,600 Speaker 1: if you're doing that sort of stuff. Yeah, there's lots 278 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:40,560 Speaker 1: of things that that can be done to help the bees. 279 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: There's legislation that was brought out years ago that you 280 00:15:43,960 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: can personally be personally liable if you spray plants that 281 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:51,800 Speaker 1: are in flour when the bleak, when the honey flowers 282 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: on and the bee populations are high, so each like 283 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: a farm or something like that, spray and gorse when 284 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: and fully in flour. Those sorts of things really need 285 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: to be done at the right in the right season, 286 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:06,080 Speaker 1: at the right time. But yeah, there is legislation that 287 00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:08,680 Speaker 1: they can actually be liable for all costs. 288 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 3: The damage is done to an aprick. 289 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 2: For example, if a young person came up to you 290 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:20,800 Speaker 2: tomorrow and said, I want a career in beekeeping. It's 291 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 2: my lifelong dream, what would you tell them. Would you 292 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 2: say pack it in, go to UNI and learn something else, 293 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 2: or would you say stick with it. 294 00:16:29,400 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, No, they really. 295 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,440 Speaker 1: Need to, you know, someone who's young, an enthusiastic and 296 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:34,640 Speaker 1: once to get into beekeeping. 297 00:16:34,880 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, go for it. Yeah, we definitely need the more 298 00:16:37,000 --> 00:16:37,600 Speaker 3: people come in. 299 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:41,920 Speaker 1: And there's been a decline and beekeepers and beg companies 300 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:45,640 Speaker 1: have been you know, well with ongoing costs and you know, 301 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: these problems that we're having worth. 302 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 3: Mines for example, especially dropping honey prices. 303 00:16:53,880 --> 00:16:56,520 Speaker 1: There's definitely been in decline and bee companies have been 304 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: dropping left, right and center. There was an increase in 305 00:17:01,640 --> 00:17:03,760 Speaker 1: the from about twenty nineteen. 306 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:05,520 Speaker 3: It was a big. 307 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 1: Increase because it was a bit of a gold rush. 308 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: Honey prices were good. A lot of people jumped on board. 309 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,159 Speaker 1: But yeah, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. 310 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 1: It's a great industry to be in, even starting off. 311 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 1: Being a hobbyist is the way to go, you know, 312 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: and get the feel of it. Get some knowledge behind 313 00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: you before you jump in with both feet. You've got 314 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: less to lose. 315 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 3: That way, you know. Lots of lot can go wrong. 316 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 1: When you're a beekeeper if you haven't got control, that's 317 00:17:28,119 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: for sure. 318 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,199 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us, Pete no worries. 319 00:17:31,359 --> 00:17:32,840 Speaker 3: Hopefully that's helpful information. 320 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 2: That's it for this episode of The Front Page. You 321 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,600 Speaker 2: can read more about today's stories and extensive news coverage 322 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,639 Speaker 2: at nsidherld dot co dot nz. The Front Page is 323 00:17:47,640 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 2: produced by Jane Ye and Richard Martin, who was also 324 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 2: our editor. I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe to The Front Page 325 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 2: on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and tune 326 00:17:59,080 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 2: in on Monday for another look behind the headlines.