Category: New Zealand Government – Business

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Hard work by industry keeps bee colony losses low

Bee colony losses in New Zealand continue to be significantly lower than many other countries, according to the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) third annual survey on bee colony losses.

Annual hive losses were reported at 9.84% overall.

MPI’s biosecurity surveillance and incursion investigation (aquatic and environment health) manager, Dr Michael Taylor, says this is low when compared to international results, which consistently see rates well over 10%. 

“Many of the pests and diseases that negatively impact beehives overseas are not present in New Zealand, and we have a robust biosecurity system to prevent them from coming into the country and deal with them if they do.”

MPI contracted Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research to conduct the New Zealand Colony Loss Survey. More than 2,060 beekeepers completed the 2017 survey, representing 30% of production colonies in New Zealand. The survey looks at the state of New Zealand’s honey bee colonies and the challenges beekeepers face.

In New Zealand, the reported rate of losses has stayed relatively stable from 2016 which saw 9.78% of beehive losses but down from 2015 where the loss rate was 10.73%.

The leading reported causes of hive loss in 2017 included:

• Queen problems (such as death, disappearance, or not laying eggs).
• Suspected varroa mite.
• Suspected starvation of bees (weather and other causes).
• Wasps (killing bees, eat pupae and steal honey). 

Losses to American foulbrood disease, natural disasters, Argentine ants, and theft were also contributing factors, but less commonly reported.

Dr Taylor says the Bee Colony Loss Survey provides baseline information for monitoring managed honey bee colony loss and survival over time.

“The information from the survey is a valued resource for the other ongoing work MPI undertakes with the beekeeping industry to promote good colony health and bee-keeping practice, as well as the Bee Pathogen Programme which looks at the prevalence of honey bee diseases and parasites already in New Zealand.”

Find out more

• 2017 Bee Colony Loss Survey report
• 2017 Bee Colony Loss Survey infographic

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Surveillance programme finds exotic mosquito

MPI’s National Salt Marsh Mosquito Surveillance Programme has found larvae from an exotic mosquito species, Culex sitiens, near the Kaipara Harbour.

MPI was alerted to the suspected detection of the larvae on 9 March, and further testing for identification was completed on 12 March.  

Further samples are being taken in the area near the initial find, in order to identify if there is a breeding population, and if so, how far it has spread.

If there is a breeding population, it is likely that MPI will undertake a programme to eradicate the mosquito from New Zealand. MPI has successfully eradicated exotic mosquitos in the past.

Culex sitiens is wide-spread in Southeast Asia, the South Pacific and Australia. It is known to transmit diseases such as Ross River virus and Kunjin virus. However, this is not currently a risk for New Zealand as these diseases are not present here. Culex sitiens may also be able to transmit Japanese encephalitis, but this has not been observed outside of a laboratory setting.

Officials from the Ministry for Primary Industries are investigating how the mosquito may have entered the country.

If people see unusual mosquitos they can call the toll-free Mosquito Hotline number 0800 Mozzie (0800 66 99 43).

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: Multi-agency fisheries operation proves invaluable in uncovering non-compliance

A multi-agency fisheries compliance operation along the North Island’s east coast has uncovered a range of offending including non-reporting of commercial crayfish.

The Ministry for Primary Industries-led operation involved resources and personnel from the New Zealand Police and the National Maritime Coordination Centre (NMCC) and focused on at-sea inspections of recreational and commercial vessels within the coastal waters of New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 

The patrol also covered six marine reserves in the area.

MPI Chief Compliance Officer for Hawkes Bay/Wairarapa, Brent Smith, says the operation covered a large area of coast around the North Island including some isolated and remote areas that are usually difficult to reach by normal patrol methods.

“The operation was a good opportunity to check compliance of both recreational and commercial vessels fishing in the area over the summer period,” Mr Smith says.

“More than 150 commercial and recreational vessels were inspected during the patrol, and approximately 300 people, including divers, were spoken to.

“We detected a small number of alleged offences including one incident of unreported crayfish by a commercial vessel in the Coromandel and undersized fin fish on an amateur fishing charter vessel.

“Follow-up action is being taken by MPI.

“The level of non-compliance was very good overall and it was great to see that the majority of people were doing the right thing.

“Joint operations like this with the Auckland Police Maritime Unit are an invaluable way in which to raise compliance levels. The fact we’re out there together sends a very strong message that any incidents of non-compliance will be taken very seriously and those who are caught offending will attract the relevant penalties.

“This ultimately supports sustainable fisheries management, which is the aim of these patrols,” says Mr Smith.

Mr Smith says ensuring and promoting sustainable fisheries is a collective responsibility and MPI encourages people to report poaching or illegal activity by:

• calling 0800 4 POACHER (0800 47 62 24)
• emailing poacher@mpi.govt.nz

Useful information to report includes:

• the location
• description of the person
• vehicle or trailer registration number.

All information is treated as confidential.

Source: Ministry for Primary Industries – Headline: New Zealand pork granted access to Australia

New Zealand pork and pork products will soon be served up on dining tables in Australia, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced today.

Access and certification for New Zealand pork exports into Australia has been agreed by MPI and Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. Department officials visited New Zealand to gain a good understanding of our systems, followed by a series of negotiations and close engagement by officials.

Access has been granted for uncooked New Zealand pork meat and products containing New Zealand pork.  Uncooked pork meat will, however, require further processing once it arrives into Australia.

Pork exports to Australia can start immediately.

“New Zealand has a very strong meat regulatory system, which is held in high regard by our trading partners,” says Jarred Mair, MPI’s deputy director-general policy and trade.

“These have helped towards enabling access to Australia for our pork and pork products.

“We appreciate and would like to acknowledge the support of the New Zealand pork industry in reaching this milestone.”

New Zealand’s pork exports are currently limited to a small number of markets, such as the Pacific Islands and Singapore.  In the year to 30 June 2017, New Zealand exported about 173 tonnes of pork in total valued at around $1 million.

New Zealand Pork Chairman Ian Carter says access to Australia for New Zealand pork will provide a positive boost for New Zealand’s pork industry.

“Commercial pig farmers in New Zealand are passionate about the care and expertise they invest in farming their pigs,” says Ian Carter. 

“We see the granting of access to Australia as an important formative step to explore export markets that value the qualities associated with pork and pork products produced from pigs born and raised in New Zealand, backed by PigCare™ – the industry’s independently managed animal welfare assurance programme – and the sector’s world-leading high health status. 

“We are grateful for MPI’s support in facilitating this first step,” says Mr Carter.

“Australia is already a very important market for New Zealand’s primary products,” says Mr Mair.

“We’re pleased to be able to add pork and pork products to the list.”

For more information, contact:

Ian Carter, New Zealand Pork Chairman 
carteri@xtra.co.nz or 027 420 0026