Green Party MP Sue Kedgley has launched a petition calling for the government to suspend the use of Neonicotinoid pesticides which have been linked to bee deaths. 

Sue Kedgley says the loss of bee populations would have dire consequences for New Zealand and she says there should be a strategy to protect bees. She is also calling for a ban on imported honey and other bee products from countries like Australia.

“It is foolhardy to allow honey imports from a country like Australia which has diseases which we don’t have in New Zealand, which we risk bringing into New Zealand.

“Why would we put our bees further at risk by possibly importing further viruses and diseases into New Zealand?”

National Bee Association co–Chief Executive Daniel Paul says the bee industry is valued at around $5.1 billion but it is a biosecurity issue rather than a trade concern for him.

“We have no problem with Australian honey per se, as long as the importation doesn’t bring with it potential biosecurity risks.

“I suppose we have to take it on trust that they will be able to keep out the biosecurity threats which we are worried about.

"However history indicates that sometimes things slip through the cracks.”

Bryce Hooton of Golden Flow Honey in Matamata says that New Zealand’s Biosecurity methods just aren’t up to scratch and there are huge risks involved in the importation of bee products from overseas. 

“Our biosecurity in this system isn’t good enough to monitor pest or anything coming into the country.

“Look at the kiwifruit industry and what they have to put up with now, because they imported pollen with the PSA bacteria.”

Agriculture Minister David Carter says there is currently no evidence of Neonicotinoid pesticides causing significant bee deaths in New Zealand and plans to suspend their use would be ‘premature and inappropriate at this time’.

The Minister also says ceasing imports of bee products cannot happen until the bee industry agrees to a set of scientifically based standards.

“We have been working with the industry now for 2 years saying the industry has to agree a standard, a scientifically based acceptable standard, by which we can market, with authenticity, the Manuka factor within Manuka honey.

“Until the industry gets its act together and is prepared to buy into such a standard it is very difficult for the government to assist this industry in moving forward.”

Bryce Hooton says these excuses are unacceptable and are undermining the potential threat posed by a lack of bio security control.

“How can they say that there is no risk to these products? That we have no risk with the products coming into our country? Their research and their monitoring are below average. It’s not acceptable for a country like ours.”   

One of the potential invaders Kiwi beekeepers are concerned about is the tiny Asian Honey Bee.

The bee, which robs honey from hives and is a natural host for the Veroa mite, could pose a serious threat if found in New Zealand. It was found to be in Australia in 2007 and has since resisted all attempts to eradicate it.

An Australian senator has described the bee as ‘the cane toad with wings’.