Now one of our own has been especially chosen to represent New Zealand in the fight to protect the precious insect. Maureen Maxwell has been appointed regional president for the
Oceania Commission of Apimondia, the International Federation of Beekeeping Associations. This is the first time this role has been open to a member of the
Oceania region, and it allows international research to be directly communicated to local beekeepers and takes our beekeepers problems to the international forum. "Imagine a dinner plate but without all of the lovely, fresh,
colourful foods with their abundance of vitamins," Maureen explains. "Bees create naturally fertile pastures for many animals supporting our wool, meat and diary industries. Crops like coffee, chocolate, cotton and biofuels rely heavily on bee pollination. Without bees more artificial fertilisers would be necessary, with potentially more destructive runoff into our lakes and rivers. With the expansion of these primary industries and the increase in the chemicals and pesticides used to accelerate their growth many honey bees are being poisoned." Maureen explains how the humble home gardener can also be
harming bees. "People don't realise the products in supermarkets that we
spray on our roses and tomato plants are killing our bees. It's so important that in every way possible we protect them." Reporting to the international president, Gilles Ratia,
Maureen will play her part in assisting beekeepers in the region by facilitating the exchange of information via congresses and symposia where beekeepers, scientist, honey-traders, technicians and legislators meet to listen, discuss and learn. "We are highly regarded as a nation that, when it comes to
beekeeping, punch well above our weight. It's my intention to be the voice of the Oceania region and specifically create more awareness about beekeeping, because it has the potential to be New Zealand's next industry darling. "In terms of differences in beekeeping
between New Zealand and the rest of the world we have developed a test management strategy to eradicate foulbrood disease
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