Notes:

1. Should genetically modified crops be grown in New Zealand:-

a) Contamination of honey and pollen will be inevitable and the perception of customers both local and overseas will have a severe effect on our marketing.

b) There is a potential risk to bee health and life expectancy by crops containing inbred toxins.

c) Spread of modified genetic material by cross pollination would be inevitable, as has happened in the UK already.

2. A small area of genetically modified crop actually impacts a large land area and corresponding honey crop.

3. E.R.M.A and the Government need to be targeted.

Remit 2 - Waikato Branch:

Note: We believe that, as New Zealand is such a small producer of hive products, relative to world production, that our marketing edge relies on the maintenance of our clean green image and in niche marketing. This may be destroyed by the introduction of genetically modified plants.

Remit 3 - Auckland Branch:

Note: It has been discovered that pollen from genetically modified corn has poisoned Monarch Butterflies. What are the implications for honey bees and pollen products?

Remit 4 - Nelson Branch:

Note: The aim of this remit is to prevent a repeat of the process of obtaining our Pest Management Strategy under the Bio Security Act. We do have a truly magnificent P.M.S. but it came at enormous and much of it unnecessary cost to our industry - both in terms of time and effort put in by Executive members and the P.M.S. Review Committee members (Disease Committee members) and in terms of the finances of the NBA. We do not want to be used as guinea pigs again nor to be the "meat in the sandwich" between the power struggles of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Health Department.

Remit 5 - South Canterbury Branch:

Remit 6 - Auckland Branch:

Notes:

1. It is unclear what pests and diseases the NZ Government would respond to at this time.

2. As NBA members will be affected by any exotic pests or disease introduction, it is appropriate the NBA should be consulted when decisions are to be made in this area.

Remit 7 - Exotic Disease Investigation Committee:

Notes: Should any of the following; EFB (Melissococcus pluton), Tracheal Mite (Acarapis woodi), Varroa Jacobsoni, Asian Mite (Tropilaelaps clareae), Africanised Honey Bee or the small hive beetle (Aethina tumida) enter New Zealand, a PMS under the Bio Security Act must be in place so that Part 3 - Regulated Control Schemes: Emergency Schemes (Clause 38) of the Animals Products Bill 1998 can be enacted.

Also, if the membership recognises, that all the diseases and pests mentioned above are likely to have a serious affect on the beekeeping industry, then the Government may support a full EDPR.

Remit 8 - South Canterbury Branch:

Remit 9 - Gary Jeffery:

Note: Common wasp numbers have fallen steadily in the past two seasons both on the West and East Coasts of the South Island, which eliminates control by weather conditions. The German wasps are now being seen for the first time for a number of years, so this pathogen might be modified to also control these.

Remit 10 - Southern North Island Branch:

Remit 11 - Southern North Island Branch:

Note: The magazine committee has recommended savings in the areas of postage and perhaps printing costs but to-date these have not been actioned.

Remit 12 - Auckland Branch:

Notes: Money spent should achieve a measurable result. For example, Trade N.Z. requires a return of 50 to 1 on their investment. That means the expenditure of $90,000 should have a measurable result of $4,500.000 increase of sales per annum. If honey marketers wish to promote their off shore sales, they can join the JAG.

Remit 13 - Auckland Branch:

Note: The profile of honey has never been higher, and it could be prudent to take a step back to assess the future of this high costing area.

Remit 14 - Auckland Branch:

Note: Given the financial situation of the NBA, there is a need to concentrate funding on core activity only.

It is time for the industry to define what core activities are.

Remit 15 - Auckland Branch:

Remit 16 - Canterbury Branch:

Notes:

a. It would appear that this reduction in levy intake (1997 - $384,000 1998 $345,000) is the root cause of the NBA's financial problem.

b. The Canterbury Branch has been tasked with finding a fairer levy system.

c. Under the PMS all beekeepers belong to the NBA therefore if you want to keep bees there should be a financial cost for that membership.

d. A hive stock unit levy fee would cover all the uses of the hive, e.g. honey producing, pollen collecting, pollination, propolis, royal jelly, queen breeding etc.

Remit 17 - Southern North Island Branch:

Notes: The original levy order was based on 16 hives per apiary. As a result, beekeepers who have less than 16 hives per apiary are paying a greater proportion of the levy. It is felt that the levy would be more equitable if it was scaled according to the number of hives in each apiary.

For example: apiaries of up to 16 hives - scaled levy 1 apiaries between 17 - 32 hives- scaled levy 2 apiaries of more than 33 hives - scaled levy 3

Remit 18 - Otago Branch:

Notes: The present system is clearly not equitable, with beekeepers with smaller sites subsiding those with apiaries with high hive numbers on 1st June. Hives are often stockpiled at that time of year, a legitimate reason to declare fewer sites.

Increasing the levy per site will only worsen this inequity. Hives are still the best indicator of a beekeepers potential income and as such are the fairest measure to base the levy upon.

Remit 19 - Canterbury Branch:

Notes: Suggested Regulations

a. No flowering plant be administered with any substance likely to kill bees or render nectar and pollen toxic to bees unless by permit. The issue of a permit would involve notifying all beekeepers within a 2km radius of the crop the substance to be used and the date and time of application.

b. A permit be required to advise, sell, purchase and use any substance toxic to bees. Permits only to be available to persons with a chemical proficiency licenses issued through ERMA or such appropriate body.

c. The costs involved in the above suggestions be recovered from the chemical companies.

Remit 20 - Canterbury Branch:

Remit 21 - Auckland Branch:

Notes: Our Branch feels it is extremely important that NZ maintains its "Clean Green Image" by the banning of all antibiotics in honey producing hives. Not only does this affect our exports, but must reduce the strength of our stand against the importation of undesirable products into the country.

We believe that some beekeepers will soon be promoting their honey as being produced from non drug fed hives.

This Remit refers to our Remit 5 of the 1996 AGM which was amended to the Executive investigate the use of Fumilligan in honey producing hives and investigate the use of alternatives. This was passed. The last recorded report said that the matter had been sent to ARAC.

Remit 22 - Bay of Plenty Branch:

Notes: Problems with significant income not being disclosed in the accounts, double payments to creditors and poor figures provided for financial planning indicate the need for some external assistance for the Executive. The Executive will retain all decision- making responsibility and accountability - the committee would simply ensure our financial situation is suitably monitored and planned into the future.

Remit 23 - Bay of Plenty Branch:

Notes: A whole year has passed without any noticeable progress. We are aware of an increasing industry-wide awareness that the NBA needs to look at its structure and bring about the necessary changes.

While there has been much talk about such a reorganisation, there has been little action, probably because the current structure (and a high level of personal commitment from some Executive members) just managed to cope with the increased pressures placed upon it by changes in government policy.

The ongoing changes to government servicing of the beekeeping industry will increase these pressures. In effect, the politicians' decision to restructure government services is also forcing the NBA to restructure so that the association can cope with the shift in responsibility from government to industry. There will be adverse consequences for the future development of beekeeping in this country if the NBA does not restructure to some extent.

There is a need for an effective policy capability within the association which is not vested in the transitory elected executive. Government is likely to continue to make decisions which could adversely effect the profitability and success of the beekeeping industry (Australian honey imports are an obvious example).

To be successful in the government policy arena in the future, the NBA needs to retain a person who has proven and effective channels of communication with government, and who can argue with both conviction and a strong understanding of beekeeping technical matters.

Remit 24 - Bay of Plenty Branch:

Notes: Ironically, members have been obtaining information about/from the NBA from the Minister's office that the NBA refused to release. Financial information, reports and copies of correspondence should be available to our membership without the sense of 'secret society' that has prevailed in the last few years.

Privacy concerns, (true) commercial concerns and costs of provision can all be addressed - this remit attempt to re-establish the principle that unless there is a really good reason to refuse a request, information should be available for our membership.

Remit 25 - Canterbury Branch:

a. Administration services.

b. Better access to Government.

c. Better access to trouble shooting when necessary, e.g. spray poisoning, public relations and education.

d. Close liaison with other land users.

Notes:

a. NBA administrative costs are ridiculous at present.

b. Federated Farmers have the ear of Government.

c. It is extremely difficult for the average beekeeper to keep his finger on the pulse when he is busy running his own business.

d. Staff writers in Straight Furrow would be available to inform of bee related issues.

Remit 26 - Waikato Branch:

Note: We believe it would be prudent to await the results of the investigation that the Executive is currently carrying out.

Remit 27 - Gary Jeffery:

Note: The idea of the PMS is excellent, but cost projections mainly attributed to MAF (AgriQuality) is placing the project in jeopardy.

Remit 28 - Nelson Branch:

Note: There is a need to get a simple message out through mass media, "Don't feed honey, feed sugar and water".

Remit 29 - Ron Morison Hawke's Bay:

Note: Some branches mount displays at A & P Shows, Young Farmers Field Days or similar venues where the risks of diseases and the value to the economy of Beekeeping is stressed. These activities are as important as marketing but receive no funding.

Rule Change Proposals for Special Meeting

Rule change 1 - Proposed by the Hawke's Bay Branch:

Proposed Rule change:
Rule 15 be altered to provide: that the President and Vice President are elected from the six appointed Executive.

Rule change 2 - Proposed by the Hawke's Bay Branch:

Proposed Rule change:
Alter it to read "The members of the Executive shall hold office for two years, commencing at the beginning of the annual meeting immediately following their election and shall at the expiration of the term be eligible for re-election".

Rule change 3 - Proposed by the Hawke's Bay Branch:

Proposed Rule change:
Delete the words "Apiaries" and "1969"

Rule change 4 - Proposed by Nick Wallingford:

Proposed rule change:
Add the words "for the ensuing year" after the word "Executive".

Notes:
All six members elected to the Executive, regardless of whether they have formally 'assumed office', should be eligible to stand for either President or Vice President of the Association.

The Annual Meeting has, for over 80 years of NBA history, selected the President and the Vice President from the six members of the Association who will be on the Executive for the following year.

This rule change proposal confirms and clarifies that this should remain the case.

While the Annual Meeting might view previous Executive experience as an asset, the meeting should not be restricted to selecting from only three, or perhaps even fewer, of the members when choosing our President and Vice President.

Rule change 5 - Proposed by Nick Wallingford:

Resolutions for Special Meeting

Resolution 1 - NBA Executive:

Notes: Option 1 the ratification of the approved 2000 budget by the approval of a $6 per apiary increase. It is fair to say that this is the option that the Executive favours and recommends.

Resolution 2 - NBA Executive:

Notes: Option 2 the complete abandonment of the marketing activities of the NBA and a significantly smaller levy increase. This would reduce the required levy increase from $6 to approximately $1.50 per apiary.

The NBA approved budget has been sent to all NBA branches so that the remit meetings held around the country can debate fully the ramifications of the proposed options. The abandonment of marketing to achieve the short-term benefit of less levy may be detrimental to the long term best interests of the industry. If members do not choose to fund the current range of activities that the NBA provides, marketing is unfortunately the only major area of our expenditure that can realistically by terminated because of the responsibilities the NBA now has under legislative commitment.

This proposal is expected to prompt much vigorous debate throughout the industry but the end of this process we would hope for a result that sees marketing remain a primary activity of the National Beekeepers Association.