Welcome
Dunedin Beekeepers’ club was formed in 1980 and incorporated in July 2022. We are a not-for-profit, membership-based club providing support for the promotion of bees and of good beekeeping practices.
2024 Programme of Club Meetings
Events
We meet on the second Saturday of each month at 1.30pm, at
Southern Youth Development, 45 Maori Road, Belleknowes, Dunedin.
Non-financial-members are always welcome, we ask a $5 donation at the door. Tea and biscuits, an interesting speaker, a wealth of knowledge and hands on experience with the club hives (depending on the weather) are available at every meeting.
Saturday 19 October
Trees and Bees – Chris Hinton
Growing up around bees in 1960s England and keeping bees for nearly 30 years in NZ, working for over 40 years an Arborist, Landscape Architect and also a keen observer of the natural world your club secretary will present thoughts and observations on bees preferences for plants (trees).
1.30 pm
Saturday 9 November
Meet the Experts – a panel discussion
For this meeting we have a panel of experts – Jane Dawber, Geoff Gray and Franz Laas on hand to answer your ‘everything you wanted to know about beekeeping… but were too afraid to ask’ questions. At this time in the season we’re expecting a few questions on swarming.
1.30 pm
News & Resources
Bee Keeping Course
The Dunedin Beekeepers club offers an introductory course for those new to beekeeping. The course consists of two 4 hour sessions. The first session for 2024 is theory on honey bees and beekeeping held at the Southern Youth Development, 45 Maori Road, Dunedin in September. The second is a practical demonstration, held at Murray Rixon’s apiary on the Taieri, where participants are able to view inside a hive and learn the basics of how to care for a colony. This is to be held in October with the reserve days the following weekend if the weather is unsuitable. The club has a limited number of bee suits that may be borrowed for the practical session. For further details and application form contact Brian Ellis at [email protected] or 027 460 5985
Swarms
Bees swarming is a natural occurrence which is a part of their reproductive cycle. Honey bees are the only type of bees that swarm. Swarming season across New Zealand can begin as early as August and runs through until January. One of the main reasons for bees swarming is overcrowding of the hive due to the queen laying more eggs thanks to warm weather and an increase of flowers and pollen. The queen and anywhere between 5,000 to 20,000 worker bees will leave the hive and land in gardens or sometimes in even more obscure places. The bees hang in a mass around the queen keeping her warm and ensuring she is safe. If you find a bee swarm the best thing to do is leave it alone and call a beekeeper to collect it in a safe manner. Don’t worry, bees in a swarm are not aggressive or inclined to sting unless provoked.
AFB Course
Each year an American Foul Brood (AFB) course and test is held locally. This enables beekeepers to become informed about AFB and the consequences of finding it in New Zealand. In other countries, AFB is treated with antibiotics, but in NZ, all hives found with AFB must be destroyed by burning. AFB is a very serious threat to our bee industry and it is important that correct procedure is followed to protect us all. It is recommended that all beekeepers complete this course, even if you want someone else to continue checking your bees for AFB. Below is the link to the AFB courses, so you can book it in your diary. www.afb.org.nz/beekeeping-courses
View Helpful Resources & Links
The aims and objectives of the society are:
• to foster interest in beekeeping
• to promote good beekeeping practices that are respectful of bees
• to raise funds for approved purposes
• to preserve the integrity of the Dunedin Beekeepers Club Inc.
Over our 40 years of operation we have introduced hundreds of beekeepers to the practice and art of keeping bees.
We give demonstrations to local schools, exhibit at shows and offer an introductory course to aspiring beekeepers. We hold monthly meetings with practical hive work and demonstrations, a wide range of speakers.
Member Trade & Sales Hub
Buy, Sell, & Swap with Members
Hive Hub
The Management Agency, National American Foulbrood Pest Management Plan New Zealand.
Club Newsletters
Browse Past Newsletters
2024
Keepers Calendar
Having taken care of our bees needs, we can have some time off beekeeping over the winter and the season starts again early spring, hence this calendar starts in August. Scroll to the current month for reminders of tasks to complete this month.
August
Prepare for the new season. Assemble feeding equipment and supplies of sugar. Prepare site by cutting grass around hives.
September
Feed if necessary. Apply varroa treatment as soon as it is warm enough to open the hives. Check all frames for AFB
October
Check hives for queen. Are there plenty eggs and brood? Is the brood in a good healthy solid pattern?
November
Now the hives are humming! Keep up varroa treatment. Feed if necessary. Control swarms. Check all brood frames for AFB.
January
Check honey supers and add more as necessary. Extract honey Check frames for wax moth.
Feel free to pop along to a club meeting held on the second Saturday of the month at Southern Youth Development, 45 Maori Road, Belleknowes, Dunedin.
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