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wineries in west Auckland, close to where she grew up. Back then it was farmland and she thrived in the rural life, just as she does today. In her spare time Maureen loves flying helicopters and mountain biking – in fact anything that gets her out into the environment. Maureen loves living on the edge. "It's my comfort zone," says the former hang-glider enthusiast. She has an HT licence, a gun licence and a fishing licence, but what truly endorses this daredevil is the fact that she is seriously allergic to bees. "I discovered this early on in my business," she assures. "I've always had respect for bees, I just have more respect for them now. I believed that there was so much potential in this industry that I chose to continue despite my allergy. Honey bees are mercenary. They will only sting if they think their hive is being threatened. Then of course they die so they're not going to sting unless they have to. "In its lifetime a bee will produce a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey. It will visit 200 flowers at 28km an hour – it literally works itself to death!" The 55 year-old will leave her Waimauku base twice a year to represent oceania in rome at the international forum. Drawing on her previous experience, Maureen will bring a valuable commercial perspective to the role. "While other board members come from a science and technical background, I think I can bring a real difference from an entrepreneurial and marketing perspective," she says. "It's a real honour to be a part of this group, and it's even more special being the first Kiwi to do it." A fervent advocate for beekeeping and the honey industry, Maureen sees honey as New Zealand's next big thing from an export point of view. She is passionate about the role of beekeeping in our primary sector and the need to safeguard its future. "Beekeeping plays a crucial role in primary production in New Zealand – not just in the production of honey and propolis, but in pollination of our horticultural crops. Bees are under a global threat of rapidly declining numbers through varroa, pesticides, disease, loss of habitat, forage and fodder," she warns. Since selling BeesOnline three years ago Maureen has been busy with her work as an international honey judge and presenter, a honey ambassador, being the New Zealand National Beekeepers How to get your own beehive started: • Find a mentor in the beekeeping industry in your area. • Work with the National Beekeepers Association. They can put you in touch with local branches and clubs. www.nba.org.nz Some questions you may like to ask yourself before • • • you start beekeeping are: Does the Council permit beekeeping in an urban area? Some have by-laws that allow beekeeping until they become a problem. Will your neighbours object? If you're thinking about keeping bees, October is a great time to start. In October, hives are just starting to expand and early swarms could be issuing. If you keep bees and you live in New Zealand it is a legal requirement that you register your hive(s). Apiary sites must be registered with the Management Agency through their contractor, AsureQuality Ltd • You can buy a beehive for around $150-$200. The best thing you can do is join up with a local bee club and start getting the benefits of bee pollination for their gardens and pantry. • A lightweight jacket with attached veil is a good choice when doing regular beework. A full bee suit and gloves are needed when doing heavy-duty beework, when the weather isn't just right and the bees are not in a great mood. • A beekeeper's best friend is his or her smoker. A smoker is simply a cylinder with a bellow attached. In New Zealand there are two different types of bees • so do your research first about which will produce the best result. Source: www.nba.org.nz HER MAGAZINE | February/March 2012 | 33