October 10, 2018
Myrtle rust threat limits beehive movement
In what could be a wake up call for the growing mānuka honey industry, the Department of Conservation is putting restrictions on all beehive movements on public conservation land.
Its director for permissions, planning and land, Marie Long, says the decision comes after research from Plant and Food indicated bees may spread myrtle rust, which can damage and kill plants in the myrtle family such as mānuka, kānuka, rata and pōhutukawa.
These plants are vital for healthy ecosystems, but also the beekeeping industry.
Concessionaires have been informed beehives cannot be moved from the North Island and placed on conservation land in the South Island, nor from the top of the South Island to the North island.
They also can't be moved from the the Operational Districts of New Plymouth, King Country, Waikato, Hauraki, Tauranga and Auckland to Northland.
DOC is also advocating for more research into myrtle rust and bees to increase the knowledge around the role honeybees play in transferring the fungal disease.
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