Bees are doing their bit – are you?

More than one third of what we eat is the result of intensive pollination by bees, yet the humble honey bee is battling to keep New Zealand’s hives alive.

This is a significant issue because bees are critical to New Zealand’s primary sector, with a role far beyond honey production. Conservative estimates suggest $3.5billion of the country’s annual GDP is attributable to intensive pollination.

Next week, The National Beekeepers’ Association is running the second annual Bee Week (26-30 July) to draw attention to the risks facing New Zealand’s bee populations.

Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is one of those risks. It's a major threat to the world’s bees with billions dying in the last few years.

New Zealand has so far remained untouched by CCD and by many of the primary diseases and pests that threaten bees around the world. But the security of our bees is under threat.

Bee week is designed to draw attention to the importance of bees, and how all New Zealanders can help to keep them safe.