24
COROMANDEL LIFE
SPRING 2013
How you can be an ally for
the bees
Bees around the world are in trouble. A world without bees would
be a very bleak place indeed. Much of our food depends on pol-
lination by bees as do our gardens and a lot of other products we
rely on. Over $5 billion of New Zealand agricultural exports also
depend on bees.
Bee numbers worldwide are in decline and we must do all that
we can to protect them. Bees are being attacked by a number of
major pests and diseases. There are also suffering from a decline in nutri-
tional forage for bees. Nutritional stress is considered to be one of the main factors
behind large-scale bee losses. Lack of food also compromises the bees’ resistance
to pests and diseases. Another major problem are pesticides and sprays which
harm bees in a number of ways.
While New Zealand bees are not as threatened as bees in other countries, events
like Bee Aware Month are crucial to raising public awareness to prevent similar
losses occurring here.
How can we help?
One of the best things we can do is make sure there is enough food for our kiwi
bees. We can do this by planting ‘bee friendly’ plants; in our gardens, on our farms,
in our public gardens and even along our roadsides. For a list of bee friendly plants
go to
We can also be careful how we use pesticides in our gardens. Try to avoid using any
chemical sprays in your gardens at all. But if you have to spray make sure it is in the
late evening after bees have gone to bed. Don’t spray while plants are flowering and
avoid spraying plants that you see bees feeding on. You can also check the labels
on garden sprays and avoid products containing neonicotinoids.
New Bee Ambassador
New Zealand bees and beekeepers have a new ally! Celebrity free range cook,
The sound of buzzing bees evokes the feelings,
smells and sights of a lazy, hazy summer
garden. They tell us all is right with the world,
the cycle of life is continuing and new life
is being created. After the infestation of the
Varroa mite in NZ in about 2000, bee numbers
declined markedly, but they are recovering; and
you can do your part to restore the population
of the buzzy wonders in your little piece of
greenery.
Some simple things you can do to help out
honey bees in your own garden include:
Plant species that have single flowers (rather
than doubles with masses of petals) and
cultivars. These are easier for bees to visit. For
more beneficial plants see nba.org.nz/about-
bees/beneficial-plants-for-bees
Old fashioned, and heirloom plants have more
pollen. Bees visit the more prolific nectar
producers
Observe bees that come into your garden and
make a note of when they are busiest and
which plants they frequent
You can purchase packets of wildflower from
r $5, with all proceeds
going to the National Beekeepers Association
Bees see yellow, blue-green, blue, and
ultraviolet best, so flowering plants with these
colours will be encourage them into your
garden
If you have to spray, make sure your chemicals
are organic and bee-friendly. Pyrethrum,
despite bee-ing an organic spray, is very toxic
to bees. If you must spray do so late in the
evening when the bees are in their hives and
avoid spraying altogether when plants are in
flower
Make water available. Bees prefer shallow
water with landing sites such as rocks or water
lilies in deeper ponds
Mass planting (of the same plant) encourages bee visits as they only visit
one type of flower at a time.
WHICH PLANTS ARE BEST?
Bees Love Perennials/annuals: alyssum, bee balm, black-eyed Susan,
basil, borage, butterfly weed, catmint, cosmos, globe thistles, lambs’
ears, lavender, oregano, marigold, sage, salvia, phlox, carrot, heather,
rosemary, thyme.
Shrubs and Trees for Bees: Apple, maple, broom, citrus, cherry,
cotoneaster, dogwood, fuchsia, hazel, hebe, pear, plum, orange, and of
course the medicinal manuka.
Landscape artist Sandra Scott of Sandscapes recommends these bee
friendly native plantings. Harakeke NZ flax, Kanuka, Karo, Kohuhu,
Koromiko, Manuka, Manatu, Kumarahou, Northern Rata, Houhere NZ
Lacebark, NZ Jasmine, Pohutukawa, Rewarewa, Ti Kouka Cabbage Tree,
Wharangirangi.
“No, you don’t have to go dig them from the wilds,” said Sandra.
“Aeroview Garden Centre in Thames has a great selection and can advise
you on best bee attractors.”
GET BEES BUZZING IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
HOUSE A HIVE AT HOME
Think about having a small hive in your garden. Kits are available or ask
can ask a local beekeeper to lease you a hive. Go to
co.nz/bee-hive-lease
What better way to educate the young ‘uns and support bees at the same
time? This is a really positive way to educate kids about the life cycles of
and inter-relationships between plants and insects, and a great way to
facilitate pollination of your own food-producing plants.
There is some evidence from overseas that home hives in cities produce
up to three times as much honey as rural hives. In New York the
pendulum has almost swung the other way. “There’s even talk about
putting a moratorium on new beehives,” says Marla Spivak. “But this is
actually much more than a trend. If we listen to the bees and how they’re
doing, they actually prefer cities. In urban areas, they tend to make more
honey. In at least the city of Boston, they also survive the winter better.”
Sanctuary Honey Ltd became organic beekeepers in 2007 and is one
of a select few producing Organic Manuka honey in the world. They are
currently looking for new bee sites throughout the Coromandel and would
love to hear from any readers who love manuka honey and would like to
have bees on their properties.
Contact
Annabel Langbein, has joined the NBA as an ambassador for bees. Annabel will be
supporting the NBA by using her profile to draw attention to the importance and
plight of bees. Donate to The N..B..Association, the main advocat for bees in New
Zealand. The NBA wants to raise money for research that will help bees.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
video talks about bees and honey. Search “bees” to get list.
nba.org.nz/about-bees/beneficial-plants-for-bees
animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/bugs/honeybee/
grist.org/list/bazz-dog-beekeeper-suit/
“Let’s talk birds and bees - seriously”’ Sue Kedgley, NZ Herald 16 August 2013
