Raiders pinch 30 beehives in 2 weeks

30 beehives have been stolen in Northland in two weeks.

Beehive thefts fuelled by an almost insatiable demand for manuka honey are plaguing Northland beekeepers with almost 30 hives worth $10,000 stolen in the past fortnight.

But an industry expert says the thefts are just the tip of the iceberg and many producers no longer reported thefts because of a perceived lack of punishment from the courts.

Kevin Wallace, the Whangarei Bee Club past president, said losing 10 hives could cost a beekeeper up to $80,0000 a season and the thefts were hitting them hard, but many did not report the thefts after they deemed previous convictions for stealing or receiving stolen beehives inadequate.

In the first recent heist up to 22 hives were taken from a property on State Highway 10 at Oromahoe, south of Kerikeri, on the night of September 19-20. The following Saturday a beekeeper discovered six hives had been stolen from a property at Kauri, just north of Whangarei. The value of stolen hives is close to $10,000, but of greater concern is the potential spread of disease through the uncontrolled and inexpert movement of hives around Northland, along with lost earnings. Some bee diseases are so contagious any infected hives have to be burned immediately.

Mr Wallace said a good hive could produce up to $8000 worth of honey a season, so the thefts were affecting livelihoods.

"The last few convictions for people stealing beehives have been wet bus ticket stuff. (In 2012) Justin Howes was convicted of receiving 785 stolen beehives and had to pay $7500 reparation at $40 a week and 400 hours community work - that's not a deterrent," he said.

Mr Wallace said the price of honey made them a lucrative target for thieves and beekeepers wanted tougher penalties for those convicted of stealing or receiving them to deter others.

In the eight months to May this year the value of hives stolen - especially around Kawakawa, Kerikeri, Kaeo and Kaikohe - was estimated at $100,000. Between two and 30 hives, about as many as will fit on a ute, were being taken at once, police said. The growing problem has spurred police and local beekeepers to urge members of the public to report, by calling *555 from a mobile phone, any suspicious activity around beehives or suspicious vehicles transporting hives in the region.

Senior Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe, of Whangarei police, says beekeepers often shifted their hives on small utes just before dawn and after dusk when bees were inactive. The movement of hives in the dead of night, however, could be theft.

"If you're unable to phone police at the time take a note of the type of vehicle, registration number, location and direction of travel, and if possible a description of the beehives including colour and numbers. Then call police when you can," he said.

Police are able to check vehicle plates and hive numbers against a list of legitimate beekeepers so they can find out if the hives are being moved legally. Doubtful beehives can be seized and looked after by a beekeeper until ownership is confirmed. The high price of manuka honey, sometimes dubbed "liquid gold", has led to an explosion in the number of small-time beekeepers as well as large firms moving into Northland.

Wholesale prices start at about $20/kg, but can go considerably higher depending on the batch's UMF (unique manuka factor).

In some areas it has also led to tensions over who has the right to place hives on or near areas of manuka. Such tensions are thought to be behind the arson of up to five beehives near SH1 at Ohaeawai on September 20.

A note was left near the burning hives, which were extinguished by the Okaihau Fire Brigade, but police would not say what was written on it.