There’s sure to be a buzz around the country this week as Bee Week 2011 kicks off.

National Beekeeper’s Association ceo Daniel Paul says Bee Week is designed to raise the public consciousness about how vital honey bees are to New Zealand.

Mr Paul says issues the industry hopes to highlight throughout the week include the planting of monocultures, the use of neonicotinoids, the phenomenon of colony collapse disorder and foreign honey imports into New Zealand.

“We need to protect our bees at all costs and I say that because while they are not under immediate threat we don’t want any additional threats coming into the country. So we don’t have CCD but we don’t want it.”

Classroom and public demonstrations as well as a series of children’s competitions are among the initiatives planned for Bee Week.