Apiarist's Advocate Pod

The Springbank Honey Saga

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 23:51:30 GMT

Reads of two reports from www.apiaristsadvocate.com August content regarding the Springbank Honey Ltd. receivership and the ramifications for beekeepers and the wider industry.

“We are in Business and We are Serious” – Honey and Bees NZ Board Elected

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 01:08:33 GMT

AI reads of two stories from www.apiaristsadvocate.com August content, plus promotions.

2:15: Newly Minted Honey & Bees NZ Chair – “We are in Business and We are Serious”

11:15: Project 2030 – A Model for Matching Honey Supply and Demand

Please rate and follow, and share your thoughts on the listening experience by emailing the editor, Patrick, at editor@apiadvocate.co.nz

Our first 'in-person' guest! Nick Taylor, and: Nine Down to Seven – Honey & Bees Members to Choose Foundational Directors

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 12:20:55 GMT

This episode is kicked off by the usual AI read from www.apiaristsadvocate.com content, this month’s mid-month story “Nine Down to Seven – Honey & Bees Members to Choose Foundational Directors”, followed by editor Patrick Dawkins being joined by New Zealand Beeswax GM Nick Taylor to talk New Zealand’s mild winter, Australia’s varroa issues and much more from 18:30 onward.

Thanks to New Zealand Beeswax for support for this episode.

A New Group with a New Name – will beekeepers swarm in?

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 21:37:46 GMT

Reads of three stories from www.apiaristsadvocate.com July content, plus promotions...

2:10: A New Day – Honey and Bees NZ Calls for Members and Fresh Leadership

...11:00: From Fieldays to Open Day – Mānuka Orchard to Host Another Free Event for Beekeepers

...19:25: Changing Chairs – A Passion for Biosecurity Entices Kiwifruit Industry Leader to AFB Trust

...Please rate and follow, and share your thoughts on the listening experience by emailing the editor, Patrick, at editor@apiadvocate.co.nz

Apiculture New Zealand Members Say ‘Yes’ to New Group, and Appoint Transitionary Leaders.

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 19:35:11 GMT

Our June ‘Addition’ story, Apiculture New Zealand Members Say ‘Yes’ to New Group, and Appoint Transitionary Leaders.

An AI reading of this story from www.apiaristsadvocate.com covering a crucial meeting in the history of beekeeper representation in New Zealand.

Thanks to Hill Labs for sponsoring this month’s ‘Addition’ content. Hill Labs – testing, inspection, certification.

June 2026 – Apiculture New Zealand Members to Vote on Group’s Fate Again

Sun, 31 May 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Reads of three stories from www.apiaristsadvocate.com June content, plus promotions.

1.40: Apiculture New Zealand Members to Vote on Group’s Fate Again

13:40: Experienced Minds Sceptical, but Realistic, About Apiculture New Zealand’s Direction

22:40: From First Detection to Winter Silence – a Perspective from Inside the Hornet War

Please rate and follow, and share your thoughts on the listening experience by emailing the editor, Patrick, at editor@apiadvocate.co.nz

Government Moves to Fund and Form an “Alliance” of Honey and Bee Groups

Thu, 14 May 2026 19:01:47 GMT

An AI read of the www.apiaristsadvocate.com report, Government Moves to Fund and Form an “Alliance” of Honey and Bee Groups.

Thanks to dnature Diagnostics and Research – DNA testing from dnature on hives, honey, bees or varroa can put your mind at ease. www.dnature.co.nz

Sticky Subjects – Propolis markets, a new industry group balancing act, and Comvita analysis.

Sun, 03 May 2026 08:53:46 GMT

AI reads of select www.apiaristsadvocate.com content. This month:

1:30 - The Great Secret of Where ‘New Zealand’ Propolis is Sourced

14:30 - Balancing Act Required as New Organisation’s Constitution is Finalised

21:30 - Comvita Wins Reprieve from New Shareholders

Please rate and review – and don’t forget to click follow to stay up to speed with all the news, views and promotions from around Kiwi beekeeping.

Fuel Shortage Highlights Need for Strong Beekeeper Advocacy

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 01:33:37 GMT

A reading of the www.apiaristsadvocate.com story of April 14, ‘Fuel Shortage Highlights Need for Strong Beekeeper Advocacy’ along with a letter to beekeepers from advertiser Egmont Honey.

How Did We Get Here? Home to the highest value honey in the world, why are so many Kiwi honey businesses going bust?

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 20:55:54 GMT

This month we feature three AI reads of stories from www.apiaristsadvocate.com. First How Did We Get Here? The World’s Highest Value Honey, but Beekeepers in Mire (1:45). Then Proposed Framework Puts Commercial Beekeepers at Heart of Industry’s New “Church” (at 16:35) before Varroa Treatment Resistance Uncovered in Australia – “Shot Across the Bows” for NZ (27:00).

Please rate and review the podcast wherever you listen, follow to get all our podcast episodes and visit www.apiaristsadvocate.com for our full range of content and to subscribe to our free monthly eMagazine.

March mid-month 'Addition': NZ’s Largest Beekeeping Business Forced into Receivership – “Sad”, “Frustrating” says Owner

Sat, 14 Mar 2026 09:35:30 GMT

An AI reading of our March 14 story detailing the receivership of New Zealand’s largest beekeeping business – Tweeddale’s Honey. Feature responses from the owner of the 81 year-old third generation business and the receivers who have now taken control.

www.apiaristsadvocate.com

A booming US market; A hornet response; and a major 'truck-up'.

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:29:28 GMT

This episode of Apiarist’s Advocate Pod presents an audio reading of three feature stories from apiaristsadvocate.com, read in full for listeners who prefer to listen rather than read. The first story, "The US Honey Market Through the Eyes of Sellers", explores how New Zealand’s mānuka honey exporters and the UMF Honey Association view the rapid growth of the US market, the role of big-box retailers and e‑commerce, the influence of AI on consumer education, and whether current demand and pricing are sustainable. The second, "Hornet Response Continues on North Shore Only", reports on Biosecurity New Zealand’s response to the yellow‑legged hornet incursion on Auckland’s North Shore, including key findings from a beekeeper webinar, trapping and tracking methods, risks of spread, and what beekeepers around the country are advised to do. The third, "In a Pickle – A Beekeeper’s Truck-Up", is a first‑person account from an anonymous beekeeper whose fully laden 10-tonne truck rolled beside a farm dam, recounting the chain of small mistakes that led to the incident, the rescue of the bees and truck, and the lessons learned.

What Should Beekeepers Expect to be Paid for their Honey this Year?

Sat, 14 Feb 2026 09:41:20 GMT

An AI reading of the www.apiaristsadvocate.com story exploring the changing dynamics of the New Zealand honey market where prices paid to many beekeepers might soon pass the breakeven point for the first time in a long time.

February 2026 – A honey season gone sideways, + much more...

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 21:27:36 GMT

Audio readings of the best of apiaristsadvocate.com's content. Including:

'Honey Season ‘25-26 – Early Potential Not Realised, Again'
One Vote, One Member – Basics of New Industry Body Proposal Revealed
Mānuka Charitable Trust Scores Own Goal in Trademark Attack on Comvita Mānuka Honey Cosmetics

See all our content at www.apiaristsadvocate.com where you can subscribe to the free monthly eMagazine.

SWOT’s Up – Apiculture Leaders’ Industry Analysis 2026

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 07:12:17 GMT

We get a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis, plus a New Year resolution for the New Zealand apiculture industry from various industry leaders. Featuring responses from Karin Kos, Mark Dingle, Jane Lorimer, Nick Taylor, Sri Govindaraju, Logan Bowyer and Frank Lindsay.

See the full story at www.apiaristsadvocate.com

Thanks to sponsor New Zealand Beeswax, www.beeswax.co.nz

Put Out Your Traps – hornet surveillance takes on increased importance as temperatures rise

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 23:52:52 GMT

Select readings of Apiarist's Advocate's January 2026 content.

Room to Improve – Beekeepers Rally Against Challenging Conditions to Deliver for Kiwifruit Growers, but Failures Remain

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 19:45:05 GMT

Despite being thrown some serious challenges in winter and spring 2025, beekeepers servicing New Zealand’s major kiwifruit growing areas appear to have – for the most part – filled their role adequately. We get the assessment from beekeepers, growers and Zespri at the heart of the action in the Bay of Plenty.

Yellow Legged Hornet Response – Time to “Go Hard”

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 21:13:10 GMT

A reading of both December's lead story Yellow Legged Hornet Response – Time to “Go Hard”, and also (12:00) the story “Agreement in Principle” for New Beekeeping Group. Thanks to Vita Bee Health – suppliers of VarroxSan through Ceracell, the only registered, long-acting oxalic acid treatment for varroa in New Zealand.

Comvita Takeover Bid Fails

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:55:10 GMT

Florenz's takeover bid to New Zealand's largest honey company, Comvita, has failed. We explore why, and get reaction from around the beekeeping and honey industry.