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From Steve Lyttle, Restructuring Task Group Chairman.

Proposed re-structuring

As we all know the members of the National Beekeepers Association of New Zealand Inc (NBA) have voted against the continued funding of the Association by way of a commodity levy.

This leaves the NBA without any immediate funding mechanism to enable it to continue beyond 1 December with the present functions it performs on behalf of its members.  As an incorporated society the NBA can continue in existence so long as it performs its statutory duties as prescribed under the Incorporated Societies Act.  At this point in time it would seem that the majority of NBA members want some form of association to continue to act on their behalf as an industry body, but perhaps in a re-structured form.

At the 2002 NBA conference members voted in support of remit 7, which recommended, "the Executive investigate the re-structuring of the NBA and report the findings to a special meeting".  It should be noted there was strong support during debate at the 2002 conference for continued industry representation at a national level.

The question now arises as to what sort of organization the members want and what functions it should perform on behalf of its members. It is also timely to look at the total structure of the NBA, the duties it performs and most importantly, how it is to be funded.

A task group of nine (including two outside advisers) has been appointed to report to the Executive on the options for re-structuring the NBA into an organization that meets the needs and aspirations of it's members, both now and into the future.

The members of the task group are:
Chairman, Steve Lyttle (honey packer and exporter, long time industry involvement) Lin McKenzie and Gerard Martin who are both beekeepers and existing Executive members, Bruce Bycroft (Crop & Food Research, NBA member and beekeeper), Geoff Hantz (NBA member, honey packer and beekeeper), Trevor Cullen (equipment supplier & long time industry involvement), Shaun Lawlor (NBA member, Southland Branch chairman & beekeeper), with Ian McKelvie (Agri-businessman and past president of the Royal Agricultural Society) and Jon Manhire of Agribusiness as the outside advisors.

NBA Restructure Task Group Terms of Reference are as follows:

1. Develop up to 3 structural options based on the core roles as identified below, having regard to the primary criteria of affordability, relevance and user friendly.

2. Show an indicative costing for each presented option

3. Completion date / presentation to Executive by October 3rd.

4. Lines of communication:-
   • Each and every meeting is faithfully recorded.
   • Accountable to Executive through President.

Core roles as identified by NBA Executive 13th August 2002.

• Governance
  What is governance? Executive agreed that it is setting the policy, not managing the doing.
• Advocacy
  What is advocacy? A voice and a face for the industry (submissions etc.)
• Service
  What is service? It was identified as the work behind the scenes to ensure the advocacy happens

Charged with the above the task group believes it is imperative to consult with as many NBA members as possible by using the branch network in a process to establish exactly what the needs and aspirations of its members are both now and into the future.

Each branch has been sent a work sheet we would like them to work through at a branch meeting to be held by Friday 27 September. We appreciate that this is very short notice and that it also coincides with a very busy time of year for many, but there is urgency for the task group to complete this project and report to the Executive by early October, most importantly because the Commodity Levy expires on 30 November.

In the interest of wide consultation it is important that as many members as possible attend these very important branch meetings on the future of their association in one form or another.

Task group members have been allocated to branches in order that they can attend meetings as facilitators and to answer any question you may have regarding the re-structuring of the NBA.

Written submissions will also be accepted from individual NBA members but must be in the hands of the task group by Tuesday 1 October

Questions the task group needs to have answered:

How do you see the industry organization being funded?
What is perceived to be wrong with the present structure?
What should the core activities of the industry organization be?
How should these core activities be delivered?
Who should the industry organization represent?
Should the industry publish a magazine?

Newsletter no.1
Friday, 30 August 2002

Branch Chairpersons and Secretaries

The Executive has confirmed the appointment of the Task Group members.
They are