News Release
24 April to 12 May 2000

Further Bay of Plenty varroa finds

Low levels of varroa infection have been detected on three small apiaries within two km. of the Te Puke Infected Place.

MAF programme co-ordinator Matthew Stone says that these finds are a result of the high priority being placed on this critical area.  The first phase of the Bay of Plenty response is testing apiary sites in the vicinity of the infected dump site, with further steps including the tracing all orchards serviced by bees now on the original Te Puke infected site, identifying beekeepers surrounding those orchards and inspecting the hives of those beekeepers.  Dr Stone says that while this is a significant task, early indications are that few orchards have been serviced by the suspect bees.

Dr Stone says that MAF is hoping that Auckland's weather is favourable for the Hobbyist Beekeepers Seminar this weekend at the Allenby Park Motor Inn, Papatoetoe.  He says while it is designed for the hobbyists, commercial and unregistered beekeepers are also welcome.  Tomorrow two technical sessions (9-11am and 1-3pm) will instruct hobby beekeepers on how to test their hives with kits they will later receive.
Clear instructions on the use of the kits will be issued, registration forms (if necessary) and contracts regarding the use and return of those kits will be signed.  Weather permitting, beekeepers will return with their samples on Sunday for analysis.  If the weather does not permit the placing and collection of materials, the collection day may be postponed until Monday.

As part of MAF's diagnostic programme, some of the varroa mites found here have been sent to Australia for DNA analysis.  Yesterday results from tests in the USA confirmed the mite found here as the Russian type of varroa jacobsoni; the same variety that has had significant impacts in both Europe and the United States of America.

Two new infected placed have also been identified in the original Infected Zone.  The total number of Infected Places is now 182 on apiaries owned by 62 beekeepers.  1,686 apiaries have now been visited, and the total number of hives on visited apiaries is 32, 301.

The movement permit free-phone operation (0800 109 383) received 11 new requests for permits; with eight issued, one declined and two requiring further work.  Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.
Contacts
John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF.
04-4744-268/04-904-1827.
Lin McKenzie, National Beekeepers Association
Executive Member. 025-357-970.

Promising preliminary results from Exotic Bee Disease Survey

Preliminary results from the survey to establish whether other exotic diseases were introduced at the same time as the varroa mite are promising, being all negative to date.

While final results will not be available till the weekend, there have been no detections of any other exotic diseases so far.   The other exotic diseases that could have been introduced along with varroa include tracheal mites, European foulbrood, Tropilaelaps mites, and small hive beetle.   As with laboratory confirmations of varroa findings, this work is being undertaken by MAF's New Zealand Animal and Plant Health Reference Laboratories.

Samples of the varroa mite found in New Zealand were sent to the USA for confirmation of identification, and analysis of strain type.   This has confirmed the New Zealand varroa as being the species Varroa jacobsoni and the Russian strain type.   This strain type occurs throughout Europe and the United States of America, where it causes significant colony mortality and economic impacts for the apiculture industry.

No new infected placed were confirmed in the laboratory yesterday.   Work today is concentrating on investigations surrounding the recently-notified Restricted Places near Rawene and Te Puke.

The total number of Infected Places remains at 177 on apiaries owned by 59 beekeepers. 1,632 apiaries have now been visited, and the total number of hives on visited apiaries is 31, 127.

The movement permit free-phone operation (0800 109 383) received 15 new requests for permits.   All were issued, but there are still five other permits pending.

Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

Contacts
John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF. 04-4744-268/04-904-1827.

Varroa detected in Northland

A low-level infestation of varroa mite has been detected in a small number of hives near Rawene in the Hokianga area of Northland.

This discovery followed a high priority trace from the primary Infected Area in South Auckland.   The beekeeper is working closely with officials to identify any risks from further movements within Northland.   Teams are now testing apiary sites in the vicinity of this new Restricted Place, as well as that near Te Puke, to establish if these sites are isolated or are indicators of more general infections out side the designated Infected Zone.

Just two other Infected Places were confirmed yesterday, both within the original Infected Zone.   While resources have now been diverted to Northland and the Bay of Plenty, work continues within the Infected Zone to establish the outer limits of infestation.

The total number of Infected Places is now 173.   The number of beekeepers owning apiaries with Infected Places has risen by three to 59.   1,623 apiaries have now been visited, and the total number of hives on visited apiaries is 30,934.

An invitation has been sent to 480 hobbyist beekeepers to attend a seminar this weekend at the Allenby Park Motor Inn, Papatoetoe.   On Saturday two technical sessions (9-11am and 1-3pm) will instruct hobby beekeepers on how to test their hives with kits they will later receive.   Clear instructions on the use of the kits will be issued, and contracts regarding the use and return of those kits will be signed.   On Sunday the beekeepers will return with their samples, which will be analysed in the MAF laboratory and individual beekeepers will be advised of their results.

The movement permit free-phone operation (0800 109 383) received 11 new requests for permits, with nine issued and two pending further work.

Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

Contacts
John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF. 04-4744-268/04-904-1827.
Lin McKenzie, National Beekeepers Association Executive Member. 025-357-970.

7 new varroa Infected Places

Seven new varroa Infected Places within the original Infected Zone have been confirmed in the laboratory.  The total number of Infected Places is now 174, involving 2,499 hives.  The number of beekeepers owning apiaries with Infected Places has risen by three to 56.  1,610 apiaries have now been visited, and the total number of hives on visited apiaries is 30,800.

Teams are now testing apiary sites in the vicinity of the Restricted Place near Te Puke notified yesterday, resulting in some resources being diverted from the original Infected Area.  Determining whether the Te Puke find represents an isolated case or an indication of the potential for more widespread infection in the Bay of Plenty area has been assigned a high priority.

Yesterday's beekeepers' meeting in Auckland, attended by over 200 beekeepers, was the opportunity for an extensive update on the varroa campaign by speakers from the National Beekeepers' Association, AgriQuality New Zealand Ltd and the National Centre for Disease Investigation.

An invitation has been sent to 480 hobbyist beekeepers to attend a seminar this weekend at the Allenby Park Motor Inn, Papatoetoe.  On Saturday two technical sessions (9-11am and 1-3pm) will instruct hobby beekeepers on how to test their hives with the inspection kits they will later receive.  On Sunday the beekeepers will return with their samples to be tested in an initiative that should fill in most of the smaller gaps in the testing of domesticated honey bees in the Infected Area.

The movement permit free-phone operation (0800 109 383) received 25 new requests for permits, with seven issued and some issues to resolve on eight requests.

Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

Contacts
John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF.
04-4744-268/04-904-1827.
Lin McKenzie, National Beekeepers Association
Executive Member. 025-357-970.

Varroa confirmed in Bay of Plenty

A site near Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty has been confirmed in the laboratory to have low level varroa infestation.   MAF programme co-ordinator Matthew Stone says that a priority is being placed on following up the implications of the new find, including:

 testing apiary sites in the vicinity of the infected dump site;
 tracing all orchards serviced by bees now in the site,
 identifying beekeepers; surrounding those orchards; and
 inspecting the hives of those beekeepers.

"This find in Te Puke, the first confirmed positive outside the Infected Zone as designated on 28 April, has potentially serious implications. We identified the strategic importance of determining the health status of the Bay of Plenty region very early on in our survey programme.   The dumpsite was not identified for testing when we surveyed the region because it is not registered.   It was identified and tested as a result of the thorough tracing exercise being undertaken.   Although the site has a low level infestation, it will be several days before we know the full implications of the find." said Dr Stone.

A total of five new Infected Places have been confirmed today.   Three were in the known infected area and not surprising, but one was in Tapu, to the north of Thames, in the same area of the Coromandel Peninsula as the site detected there last week.

The cumulative total of Infected Places is now 167, on apiaries owned by 53 beekeepers.   30, 111 hives have now been visited on 1,581 apiaries.

A Hobbyist Beekeeper Seminar has been has been organised for this weekend, the 13th and 14th of May.   It will be held at the Allenby Park Motor Inn, Papatoetoe.   On Saturday some technical seminars will be held to instruct small-scale beekeepers on how to test their hives, and they will be issued with inspection kits.   On Sunday the beekeepers will return with their samples to be tested.   Dr Stone said this initiative is designed to get the best possible understanding of varroa's spread within the time and resource constraints available.

The movement permit free-phone operation (0800 109 383) received seven new requests for permits, with 20 being issued (after clearing the backlog) and none declined.

Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

Contacts
John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF. 04-4744-268/04-904-1827.
Lin McKenzie, National Beekeepers Association Executive Member. 025-357-970.

Possible discovery of varroa at Te Puke

Field teams yesterday discovered what may turn out to be the first infected site outside the Infected Zone, in a dump site in Te Puke.

A dump site is a depot where hives used for pollination services are moved after completing pollination.   The hives were traced from a Hauraki Plains infected site, and the dump site had not previously been tested.   The hives are showing very light infestations, and this and the previous sampling in the Bay of Plenty region (which did not find any infected sites) provides a degree of confidence that varroa may not have spread from the site.   Sampling in the vicinity and around other sites the hives have been since moving from the Hauraki Plains will begin immediately upon laboratory confirmation of the field diagnosis.   Laboratory confirmationn is expected on Monday.

The movement permit operation (through 0800 109 383) is making good progress, with 16 new permits requested, 23 issued, and eight declined - although in six of those cases some of the movements requested were approved.

29,334 hives on 1,534 apiaries have been inspected.   The number of Infected Places is now 162 on properties owned by 53 beekeepers.

Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

Contacts
John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF. 04-4744-268/04-904-1827.
Lin McKenzie, National Beekeepers Association Executive Member. 025-357-970.

Testing continues to determine extent of varroa infection

13 new varroa Infected Places have been detected within the Infected Zone. MAF programme co-ordinator says they the new finds confirm the trend noted yesterday of indicating low infection rates apparently caused by natural spread of the varroa mite.

"The new sites have low level infections, in some cases as low as 10 mites per hive.   It seems that these infections are the result of natural spread of the varroa mite by mechanisms such as bees robbing honey from infected hives, bees leaving a hive or naturally drifting bees.   We are analysing the stage of infection in hives at various sites and the likely spread mechanisms to assist our evaluation of control options," said Dr Stone.

The new Infected Places bring the cumulative total to 131, on apiaries owned by 44 beekeepers.   26,889 hives have now been tested on 1,453 apiaries.

Field sampling work has been completed for the Exotic Bee Disease Survey, designed to prove that other exotic diseases such as tracheal mites or European foulbrood were not introduced along with varroa mite.

233 hives on 22 apiaries were sampled, with sticky boards, honey samples, bee samples, hive debris samples and larval samples.   Laboratory results from those samples are expected early next week.

The movement permit free-phone operation (0800 109 383) received 15 new requests for permits yesterday.   18 permits were issued yesterday, reducing the pending total to 24.   One application for a cross-border movement has been declined.   The application for movement permits is now on the MAF and NBA websites.

Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

Contacts
John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF. 04-4744-268/04-904-1827.
Lin McKenzie, National Beekeepers Association Executive Member. 025-357-970.

DATE:   8.5.2000.
TIME:   1PM.
VENUE:   MANAKAU SPORTS BOWL. (Formally Greyhound Race Track).

AGENDA:

May not be in the following order. Prior commitments may require some speakers to substitute an understudy. Please fax in anything you would like added.

1. Bringing you up to date on the VERROA position.
2. NBA EXEC MEMBER JANE LORIMER - Economic impact on the two options ELIMINATE OR ENDEMIC CONTROL.
3. NBA REPRESENTATIVE - Report on what has been done so far.
4. DR. MARK GOODWIN - Varroa Eradication.
5. A speaker from the Centre for Disease Investigation.
6. COMPENSATION. Discussion on the Ramifications for our Industry particularly on eradication.
7. MIKE STUCKEY - What Beekeepers should be doing if eradication goes ahead.
8. AAO PAUL BOLGER - What the Beekeeper can do now under the present controls.
9. JIM SUTTON - Agriculture Minister or his representative speaking on behalf of the Government (a possibility at this stage).

DIRECTIONS.   MOVING SOUTH - Take the Manakau City off ramp, turn east (left) into redoubt road, then first left into DIORELLA DRIVE at the end of which you will find the MANUKAU SPORTS BOWL. MOVING NORTH - Take the Wiri off ramp and turn north into GREAT STH ROAD, then east (right) at the first set of lights, over the Motorway into REDOUBT ROAD, then first left into DIORELLA DRIVE, at the end of which you will find the MANUKAU SPORTS BOWL.

This meeting concerns ALL BEEKEEPERS particularly those who rely on it for income.

SECRETARIES - Our Branch is relying on you to inform your members and to be represented.

The Auckland Branch wishes to express their Heart Felt thanks to the BAY OF PLENTY BRANCH for their wonderful offer to donate package bees to those of our members affected by this outbreak.

SECRETARY: Jim Thompson, Phone: (09) 238-7464 Fax: (09) 232-8429.
PRESIDENT: Brian Alexander, Ph/Fax: (09) 420-5028

Indications of natural spread of varroa

Six new varroa Infected Places have been found within the Infected Zone.   MAF programme co-ordinator Dr Matthew Stone says that the new finds are close to the epicentre of what is thought to be the original source of infection.

"The new sites have light infections, and are located close to other infected apiary sites in the South Auckland and Pukekohe clusters.   Tracing has not revealed any likely means of human-assisted transport to these new sites, suggesting they are the result of natural spread of the varroa mite by mechanisms such as robbing of infected hives, or absconding or naturally drifting bees.   Investigation of spread mechanisms is one of the issues that this phase of the varroa campaign is addressing, and this information will feed into the technical examination of control options," said Dr Stone.

The new Infected Places bring the cumulative total to 118, on apiaries owned by 37 beekeepers - an increase of just one. 25, 577 hives have now been tested on 1,398 apiaries.

90% of the tracings of north to south movements revealed in the survey of South Island beekeepers have now been completed, with no findings that cause concern.

The movement permit free-phone operation (800 109 383) received 56 requests for permits yesterday. 26 permits have been issued under the movement restrictions reviewed on Friday evening.

An ancillary benefit of the current operation is that 586 apiary site with 8,327 hives have been registered since the start of the survey.

Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

Contacts
John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF. 04-4744-268/04-904-1827.
Lin McKenzie, National Beekeepers Association Executive Member. 025-357-970.

Varroa detected in the Coromandel

A hive on a beekeeping property near Thames has proved to be infected with the varroa mite.   It appears that two adjacent hives, on the same property, have also been infected, but at very low levels.   Testing is continuing on the Coromandel Peninsula, with no other indications of varroa there so far.

MAF programme co-ordinator Dr Matthew Stone says that the new find was the result of a trace from the infected area in the Hauraki Plains, where the infected hive - now on the Coromandel - was placed for several weeks in November.   Dr Stone says that it will be important to establish if this is an isolated infection, or there has been a wider spread of varroa on the peninsula. Apiary sites in the area of the newly identified site are being tested.

In addition to the Coromandel find, eight Infected Places have been confirmed within the Infected Zone.   The nine new Infected Places brings the cumulative total to 112, on apiaries owned by 36 beekeepers.   24,516 hives have now been tested on 1,341 apiaries.

The movement permit free-phone operation (800 109 383) has been very busy with received 74 requests for permits yesterday.   13 permits have been issued under the movement restrictions reviewed on Friday evening, with two declined and the rest pending.   To ease the process further, the application form for permits will be posted on the websites of MAF and the National Beekeepers Association later today.

Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

Contacts

John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF.   04-4744-268/04-904-1827.
Lin McKenzie, National Beekeepers Association Executive Member.   025-357-970.

1 May 2000

11 new varroa sites within Infected Zone 11 new varroa-infected places have been identified - all within the established Infected Zone - but the number of beekeepers owning infected properties remains at 29.   MAF programme co-ordinator Dr Mathew Stone reports that the total of infected places is now 96, and that number is likely to rise.

"The programme now will largely focus on the Infected Zone established on Friday evening.   It will be important to shrink the boundaries of varroa infection so we know what we have to deal with when control options are considered.   This means a concentration on in-fill surveys of the infected area, which is likely to add to the Infected Places total," said Dr Stone.

0800 109 383 - the telephone service to facilitate requesting permits under the revised control regulations released in Friday evening - is now in operation, with 29 inquiries received.   Dr Stone says that this is not intended to be a bureaucratic block to beekeepers carrying out their business, but a sensible approach to a difficult problem developed in full consultation with the industry.

A consignment of bees prepared for export to Canada prior to the outbreak of varroa on 11 April, and held in containment since that time, has been humanely destroyed by the exporter by sealing the premises and gassing the bees with methyl bromide.   MAF is supervising the destruction and decontamination procedures.   The decision to destroy the consignment was taken by the exporter in order to allow decontamination of the premises where the consignment was held in containment, prior to preparation of further export consignments scheduled in the near future.

The first export shipment of live bees from New Zealand to Canada arrived yesterday in Toronto, and was accepted by Canadian authorities.   Several other shipments are in transit.

39 movements from the North to the South Island have been picked up in the telephone survey of South Island beekeepers, but many of those are queen bees from Kaitaia and Foxton.   While all the leads from the survey will be followed up, none appear to be cause for great concern at this stage.

22,142 hives on 1,233 apiaries have been inspected.   Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

28 April 2000

To all New Zealand beekeepers

VARROA MITE NORTH ISLAND CONTROLLED AREA

Further to my previous letter of 16 April, I am writing to update you on the latest developments related to the Varroa jacobsoni investigation.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), pursuant to section 131(2) of the Biosecurity Act 1993, has reviewed the movement control provisions in respect of Varroa mite, which I described in the letter of 16 April.   Once again, the review has involved full consultation with the National Beekeepers Association (NBA).

A significant amount of surveillance work has been undertaken in recent weeks in order to establish the extent of spread of varroa.   However, some further work must still be done before a decision regarding the technical, logistical and economic feasibility of the various control options can be made.   On Monday 1 May Cabinet will announce whether MAF will receive further funding to continue this work, with the intention of enabling a report back to Cabinet by the end of May on the preferred option for control.   Once the decision regarding the preferred control option is taken, there may well be a further review of these movement control provisions.

All parts of New Zealand other than the South Island remain an area that is controlled for the purpose of limiting the spread of Varroa jacobsoni.   This area is referred to as "the Controlled Area".

Until further notice movement of things listed in the schedule below into, within or from any part of the Controlled Area that is within the territorial authority boundaries of -

Rodney District, Thames - Coromandel District, North Shore City, Auckland City, Waitakere City, Manukau City, Franklin District, Papakura District, Hauraki District, Waikato District, Matamata - Piako District, Far North District, Hamilton City, Kaipara District, Kawerau District, New Plymouth District, Opotiki District, Otorohanga District, Rotorua District, Ruapehu District, South Waikato District, Stratford District, Taupo District, Waipa District, Waitomo District, Western Bay of Plenty, Whakatane District, or Whangarei District

The movement of the things listed in the schedule below from any other part of the Controlled Area to any part of New Zealand not in the Controlled Area is prohibited, except with the permission of an inspector or authorised person appointed under the Biosecurity Act 1993.   Effectively, this prohibits movements from the North Island (including that area described in the attached map as the Surveillance Zone) to the South Island (described as the Disease Free Zone).

The schedule of things for which movement is controlled by this notice include:

• Honey bees (meaning Apis mellifera), including package bees, queen bees, and the whole or any part of any dead honey bee.
• Beehives (meaning any thing that is being or has been used for the keeping of honey bees), including nucleus beehives.
• Any part of any beehive, including frames, boxes, lids and bases.
• Unprocessed bee products, including supers of honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and beeswax.
• Used beekeeping equipment (including smokers, hive tools, veils, overalls, footwear and gloves).

This notice does not impose restrictions on the movement of processed bee products, including processed and packaged honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly and beeswax products.

Any person who wishes to obtain the permission of an inspector or authorised person to carry out a movement that would otherwise be prohibited should phone 0800-109-383.   The decision on whether to permit movement will be based on a policy that has been agreed with the NBA.   Within the Infected Zone and Buffer Zones, movement of high risk things may require that a pre-movement test be undertaken.

Failure to comply with the conditions of movement control is an offence under the Biosecurity Act.   The Act provides for penalties including imprisonment for up to 5 years and a fine of up to $100,000 for individuals committing an offence.   Reports of breaches of movement control can be made by phoning 09-256-9395.

Background

On 11 April 2000 the honey bee mite Varroa jacobsoni was detected in beehives in Otahuhu, South Auckland.   Subsequently, MAF has coordinated a response focussing on delimiting the spread of the mite, utilising the resources of AgriQuality NZ Ltd and the NBA.

As of 27 April 2000, there are 85 infected apiary sites, affecting 29 beekeepers, in the Infected Zone.   The infected apiary sites are located around four clusters, in Orewa/Kumeu, South Auckland, Pukekohe and the Hauraki Plains.

Since 11 April MAF has completed surveillance to determine the extent of the infected area and to establish its northern and southern borders.   Within this Infected Zone, there is ongoing inspection and testing of apiaries to identify all infected apiary sites, in order to complete tracing of live bee and equipment movements outside of the controlled area.   A programme of surveillance in the North Island outside the boundaries of the Infected Zone has been completed, targeting apiary sites belonging to large beekeepers who also have sites within the Infected Zone.   The Bay of Plenty district was targeted early in this operation due to concerns of spread occurring during pollination.   This work has found no evidence of infection in the North Island outside what has now been described as the Infected Zone.

The tracing operation has included inspecting apiaries that have received live bees or equipment from infested hives.   At this stage, all high risk traces outside the Infected Zone have tested negative, including two traces to the South Island.   Further testing will occur in one month, and in the intervening period apiaries identified as having received bees from the Infected Zone remain under movement restrictions.

Further to the on-going tracing from infested apiaries, a telephone census of all registered beekeepers in the South Island has been undertaken in order to identify beekeepers who may have received live bees from infested sites.   This information will be used to conduct targeted surveillance in the South Island in order to confirm the status of the Disease Free Zone.

Up until 27 April, the surveillance programme has cost MAF approximately $850,000.

The extra funding MAF has applied to Cabinet for is intended to be used to continue field work, including:

• continued inspections of hives between known infested sites within the controlled area to enable tracing of live bee and equipment movements;
• continued inspections to determine whether there has been spread by movement of live bees or equipment within a beekeepers normal operation (intra beekeeper spread);
• continued inspections to determine whether there has been spread by movement of live bees or equipment from one beekeeper to another (inter beekeeper spread);
• tracing and inspection of hives associated with infected hives throughout New Zealand;
• follow up work from the telephone census of South Island apiaries;
• inspections of hives to ensure that other exotic diseases (such as tracheal mites or European foulbrood) were not introduced along with varroa mite;
• continued checking of samples sent by beekeepers to the National Plant Pests Reference Laboratory at Lincoln.

MAF expects to have largely completed this work by the end of May.   The information gathered during this surveillance will be considered by joint MAF and NBA working groups considering the technical, logistical and ecomonic feasibility of the control options for varroa.   MAF expects to be able to report back to Cabinet on the preferred option by the end of May.

For further information regarding varroa visit the NBA website at www.nba.org.nz and the MAF website at www.maf.govt.nz.   All further information will be posted on these sites and publicised through media.

MAF and NBA are grateful for the cooperation received to date and look forward to further support from the NZ beekeeping industry in completing the surveillance work and considering the options for the future.

Yours sincerely

Barry O'Neil
Group Director, MAF Biosecurity Authority

APPENDIX 1: Regionalisation of New Zealand for Varroa jacobsoni

Canada approves live bee trade

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has approved in principle the resumption of the importation of New Zealand honeybees.   The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry welcomes this approval and says that a realistic aim would to have an operational resumption of trade within 2-3 days.

MAF says that permits would have to be re-issued to meet Canadian requirements, which include certification that bees being exported do not originate from hives infested with the varroa mite.   MAF will contact people with a Canadian import permit over the next day or so to ensure they are aware of the revised conditions to be met for the resumption of this trade.

Six new varroa-infected places have been identified - all within the original infected zone - but the numbers of beekeepers having infected properties remains 28.   MAF programme co-ordinator Dr Mathew Stone reports that the total of infected places stands at 70.

37 teams are in the field today, with much of the work concentrated on the Southern North Island from satellite centres in New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Napier, and Gisborne/Wairoa.   Dr Stone says that the varroa detection programme is moving to a phase where zones for control options are being identified.   He expects surveys should be substantially completed by this weekend, and that movement control provisions for the North Island will be reviewed within the next few days.

The telephone survey of all 1300 South Island registered beekeepers to establish if there have been any other high-risk movements from the infected areas of the North Island should be completed by this evening.
Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

Contacts
John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF.   04-4744-268/04-904-1827.
Lin McKenzie, National Beekeepers Association Executive Member. 025-357-970.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry reports 10 new varroa-infected apiary sites were found yesterday as a result of continuing sampling within the infected area and boundary zones: 8 in the South Auckland area - including Cleveland and Whitford - and 2 in the north of the boundary zone around Helensville and Orewa.

MAF programme co-ordinator Dr Matthew Stone says that testing at the Omaru high-risk site he reported yesterday has returned negative results.   As with the other South Island site that also returned a clear result, in Middlemarch Otago, restrictions will remain until repeat testing in approximately 1 month.

MAF intends to contact all 1300 South Island beekeepers in order to establish if there have been any other high-risk movements from the infected areas of the North Island.   To date, the Middlemarch and Omaru apiary sites have been identified by tracing movements from North Island beekeepers.   Information from South Island beekeepers themselves regarding bees or hives moved from North Island sources in the last 3 years would ensure a complete tracing exercise is completed.   Any information on such movements can be passed onto MAF via the exotic disease hotline 0800 809 966.

Surveillance in apiary sites in the rest of the North Island begins today.   Dr Stone says four further co-ordinating centres have been established in Gisborne, Palmerston North, Napier, and New Plymouth to facilitate testing in those regions.

At a National Beekeepers Association meeting yesterday, MAF provided an update of response to date and plans for rest of the week.   Both groups remain committed to reviewing Movement Controls on or about Friday 28 April.   It now seems likely that a decision regarding control options may require further work for up a fortnight.   MAF is preparing a paper discussing these issues for presentation to Cabinet next week.

Over 30 field teams will be operating for most of this week, more than any other day so far.   Laboratory resources are being prepared to accept and read over 1500 sticky boards from Apistan tested hives in the latter part of the week.

To date, 749 apiary sites and 11,591 hives have been Information on the varroa mite is available on the MAF website.

Contacts
Matthew Stone, Programme Co-ordinator Exotic Disease Response, MAF Biosecurity Authority. Ph 025-332-509, 04-498-9884.
Lin McKenzie, National Beekeepers Association Executive Member. 025-357-970.inspected, revealing 50 infected apiary sites owned by 27 beekeepers.
John Hayes, Communications Adviser, MAF. 04-904-1827.

The President of the National Beekeepers' Association, Mr Terry Gavin today called on the Government to work towards eradication of the Varroa Mite as a result of the industry task force meeting on the Varroa Mite incursion held in Wellington on 24 April.

Mr Gavin emphasised that eradication would involve the depopulation of all hives in the infected area plus the destruction of feral honey bee colonies.

"Although this may seem to be a huge and expensive task, the industry group feels that at this early stage in the outbreak, New Zealand has a window of opportunity to destroy the mite.

"The ongoing cost of control and containment if the mite was to become endemic must far outweigh the cost of a short to medium term eradication programme.

"All of New Zealand's primary sectors and the national economy will be dramatically affected by a decline in bee numbers that varroa mite will cause if it is allowed to become endemic.   It is in the best interests of all for New Zealand to move towards the control and eradication of this noxious pest", concluded Mr Gavin.

For further information contact:
Terry Gavin 021 257-6457
Tim Leslie 025 283-3935
Lin McKenzie 025 357-970

The President, Mr Terry Gavin opened the meeting by welcoming and thanking all for giving up their Easter.   He outlined that the objective for the day was to come up with a policy from the beekeeping industry on future policy surrounding varroa bearing in mind:

1. Responsibility to the industry
2. Responsibility to the nation.

Attendees:
Terry Gavin, Jane Lorimer, Don Bell, Tim Leslie (NBA), Catherine Petrey (Federated Farmers), Graham Cammell, Russell Berry, James Ward, Peter Berry, Roger Bray, Philip Cropp, Murray Bush, Alan McCaw and Richard Hatfield (NBA Industry).

1. Don Bell outlined the work of the NBA in the last 13 days.   He also talked about the objectives of the day.  We must look at the big picture, not minor detail.   We need an industry position.




Mr Cammell moved a vote of thanks to Mr Bell for his work during the crisis to date.



2. Dr Barry O'Neill, MAF Biosecurity Authority and DR Matt Stone joined the meeting.
   
   Dr Stone outlined the control of the outbreak to date and answered questions.
   
   Dr O'Neill talked about the response from a senior management level of MAF and indicated that his feeling at this stage is that eradication is not going to be an option as all evidence he has scene from overseas is not encouraging.
   
   He stated that MAF need as much information as possible and that regardless of the outcome an education component will be required.  Although, do nothing is not an option.  If they (MAF) are funded they can carry on, but there will be a need to scale things back soon.
   
   The control option will see/require more input from the industry and that education should attract government assistance.
   
   
3. Catherine Petrey described the input from Federated Farmers and how it was important that the industry developed it's own scenario as beekeepers are the only experts, therefore they should have a good idea how to handle problems with bees and what is affordable.
   
   Federated Farmers is here to offer policy advice and help.  Also help with linkages to officials and ministers and help with "wider industry" rev up and involvement.
   
   
4. Dr Mark Goodwin was bought to the meeting by conference phone.   He outlined a draft plan for eradication and also stated he felt that other exotic diseases and pests (European Foulbrood, Tracheal mite and Tropilaelaps) should be tested for as well.
   
   Dr Goodwin felt it was highly likely that these had arrived if Varroa had.  There is a need to go back to the original centre of infection and take samples.
   
   With regard Varroa and eradication he felt that feral colonies need a baiting programme once commercial and hobby hives have been depopulated.   He felt that if an eradication programme was to take place it should comprise representatives of the following: industry, authorities, people skilled in dealing with the Pesticide Board, environmentalists, councils and public relations.
   
   
5. The meeting then considered four different scenarios: Do nothing, control without containment, containment and control and elimination.
   
   

   These scenarios were lined up against four factors:
   

   Economic direct

   Economic indirect

   Non economic direct

   Non economic indirect

   
   
   Control without containment:
   
   
   Issues:
   
   • No timetable so Varroa would spread through the whole country in 3-4 years.
   • Education of beekeepers and the public
   • Chemicals
   • Probably the least socially disruptive
   • Lowest paperwork involved. Therefore lowest cost in administration
   • There would be a need for competency testing of Beekeepers
   • Highest damage to the beekeeping industry
   • Would be a need for research
   • Green image
   • No central government input and $
   
   
   Containment and control:
   
   
   Issues:
   
   • Slow spread - perhaps give the industry 7 years.
   • Movement controls - increased paper work forever with auditing and regulatory documentation problems and costs with ongoing survey and monitoring as well.
   • There would be a need for competency testing of Beekeepers
   • Education
   • Would be a need for research
   • Green image
   • No central government input and $
   • Research possibilities.
   • Higher cost to the industry
   • Need for taxpayer inputs for a long period.
   
   
   Elimination:
   
   
   Issues:
   
   • Movement issues
   • Chemical issues
   • Monitoring, auditing and regulatory costs and inputs
   • High cost management
   • PR needs to be "managed" to keep public support
   • Will help the green image
   • High short term cost for long term gain.
   • Hive depopulation and feral colony costs
   • Education compulsory
   • Labour costs
   • Need for taxpayer inputs for a long period
   
   
   Do nothing:
   
   
   Issues:
   • 25-50% loss to the industry
   • Huge revenue loss
   • Lower pollination revenue
   • No exports
   • Have to import honey
   • Increased chemical, education and labour costs very quickly.
   • Hobbyists drop out of the system quickly - no replacement beekeepers
   • Lifestyle change for the industry participants as they work harder for less
   • Not as much involvement in the politics/national issues of the industry
   • Sends a bad message - Biosecurity and border control is not important.
   • Other industry affects

After a general discussion where all could have a say it was moved Richard Hatfield, seconded Philip Cropp that:

"On the information available at present, we (NBA) consider that elimination is still possible and that survey work must continue to know as much about the spread as possible."

Carried unanimously!

Discussion about NA Executive work and presence was held.  Moved Russell Berry, seconded Richard Hatfield that:

"The NBA Executive Committee maintain a presence in Wellington for at least the next two weeks."

Carried unanimously!

General discussion ensued with Mr R Berry raising the possible need of a special NBA meeting to discuss the Varroa issue after the MAF/NBA final decision.   It was felt that the need for this meeting could be assessed at the time a decision is made.

There being no further business, Mr Bell and Mr Gavin thanked all for their time and the meeting closed at 4.45pm.

Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF)

www.purdue.edu/Entomology-ext-targets/e-series/EseriesPDF/E-201.pdf

www.iacs.ac.uk/res/depts/entnem/varrhub/tvarrhub.html